Politiki kouzina (2003)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Tassos Boulmetis

Writer:

Tassos Boulmetis (writer)

Release Date:

24 October 2003 (Greece)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

Pepper...is hot and scorches, just like the sun

Plot:

"A Touch of Spice" is a story about a young Greek boy (Fanis) growing up in Istanbul, whose grandfather...

Plot Keywords:

Spice | Grandfather | Istanbul | Cooking | Funeral

Awards:

10 wins

Cast

Georges Corraface	...	Fanis Iakovidis (as George Corraface)
Ieroklis Michaelidis	...	Savvas Iakovidis
Renia Louizidou	...	Soultana Iakovidou
Tamer Karadagli	...	Mustafa
Basak Köklükaya	...	Saime
Tassos Bandis	...	Grandpa Vasilis
Stelios Mainas	...	Uncle Aimilios
Odysseas Papaspiliopoulos	...	Fanis - 18 years old
Markos Osse	...	Fanis - 8 years old
Thodoros Exarhos	...	Thrasyvoulos
Athinodoros Prousalis	...	Iordanis
Kakia Panagiotou	...	Aunt Elpiniki
Dina Mihailidou	...	Dorothea
Themis Panou	...	Osman Beis
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gözde Akyildiz	...	Saime - 5 years old
Nikos Alatzas	...	Herb Dealer
Anthi Andreopoulou	...	Teacher
Giorgos Antoniadis	...	Balukli Priest
Evelina Arapidou	...	Baby Fanis
Rafaella Aristopoanou	...	Aishe - 6 years old
Soula Bozi	...	Aunt Eleftheria
Nikos Bozopoulos	...	Priest's Son / Customer
Stefanos Damatos	...	Turkish Officer
Giannis Fyrios	...	Alekakis
Mihalis Giannatos	...	Grandpa's Friend
Tilemahos Kakouris	...	Leonidas
Marina Kalogirou	...	Anna
Natalia Kapodistria	...	Marilena
Eleni Karamanidou	...	Vasoula
Thanasis Kouvousis	...	Student
Giorgos Kyriakidis	...	Fotis
Ersi Malikenzou	...	Varvara
Marianna Mavrostamati	...	Aishe
Pavlos Orkopoulos	...	Commander
Tasos Papanastasiou	...	Turkish Dean
Stelios Roidis	...	Kleovoulos
Despoina Sarafidou	...	Lela
Katerina Savrani	...	Litsa
Yorgos Souxes	...	Balukli Hospital Doctor
Dimitris Stefanopoulos	...	Zinos
Mimis Thiopoulos	...	Thomas
Yannis Totzikas	...	Priest
Apostolos Tsironis	...	Controller (as Apostolis Tsironis)
Elena Tsitoura	...	Hristina
Amalia Zarifi	...	Dorothea's Mother
Elias Zervos	...	Pantelis

Directed by
Tassos Boulmetis

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tassos Boulmetis		writer

Produced by
Harry Antonopoulos	....	producer
Tassos Boulmetis	....	co-producer
Ansi Elagoz	....	line producer: Turkey
Robert Kirby	....	executive producer
Kostas Lambropoulos	....	executive producer
Despina Mouzaki	....	co-producer
Haris Padouvas	....	co-producer
Lily Papadopoulos	....	producer
Dionyssis Samiotis	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Evanthia Reboutsika

Cinematography by
Takis Zervoulakos

Film Editing by
Yorgos Mavropsaridis

Casting by
Sotiria Marini

Set Decoration by
Olga Leontiadou

Costume Design by
Bianca Nikolarizi

Makeup Department
Hronis Tzimos	....	hair stylist
Evi Zafiropoulou	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Ilkay Dogan	....	unit production manager: Turkey
Christos Glimis	....	assistant production manager
Giannis Iakovidis	....	production manager
Artemis Skouloudi	....	production supervisor
Kostas Toumbas	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Theodora Bassacou	....	second assistant director
Eleftheria Dimitromanolaki	....	first assistant director
Nadir Ozgoren	....	assistant director: Turkey
Takis Yannopoulos	....	assistant director

Art Department
Özlem Görer	....	set dresser: Turkey
Myrto Kafkoula	....	set dresser
Athina Kosmidou	....	assistant property master
Panagiotis Loxas	....	assistant property master
Giannis Mylonas	....	assistant property master
Vangelis Petrakis	....	construction coordinator
Babis Zafeiropoulos	....	property master

Sound Department
Thanassis Arvanitis	....	sound mixer
Dimitris Athanasopoulos	....	sound recordist
Dimitris Markou	....	assistant sound
Yorgos Mikrogiannakis	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Kostas Amvrosiadis	....	animator
Giorgos Antoniou	....	animator
Tassos Boulmetis	....	visual effects designer
Argyris Damigos	....	animator
Mihalis Dimakos	....	animator
Xenofon Filippousis	....	visual effects
Giannis Gekis	....	animator
Giannis Georgariou	....	visual effects designer
Giannis Georgariou	....	visual effects
Vivian Gerogianni	....	visual effects editor
Gregory Glezakos	....	compositor: airplane sequence
Kostas Haritopoulos	....	animator
Andreas Helmis	....	animator
Giorgos Kokkinis	....	visual effects
Elena Mantzavinou	....	compositor
Giorgos Marmoutas	....	visual effects
Philippos Marmoutas	....	post-production effects supervisor
Philippos Marmoutas	....	visual effects designer
Philippos Marmoutas	....	visual effects
Petros Naoumis	....	animator
Nikos Outsikas	....	texture artist
Niovi Skiada	....	animator

Camera and Electrical Department
Mustafa Aslan	....	assistant dolly grip: Turkey
Oktay Beduk	....	best boy: Turkey
Erkan Cakmakci	....	grip: Turkey
Gokhan Comert	....	best boy: Turkey
Baris Dikisci	....	best boy: Turkey
Kaan Güner	....	gaffer: Turkey
Kleopatra Haritou	....	still photographer
Ufuk Kayar	....	dolly grip: Turkey
Hasan Kesici	....	best boy: Turkey
Dimitris Koronetopoulos	....	best boy electric
G. Koronetopoulos	....	electrician
Panagiotis Kourkouris	....	grip
Elena Margaritidi	....	assistant camera
Giorgos Metaxas	....	assistant camera
Ercan Özkan	....	Steadicam operator: Turkey
Aris Shoinohoritis	....	generator operator
Aris Shoinohoritis	....	grip
Michael Tsimperopoulos	....	Steadicam operator
Vangelis Kolokythas	....	Steadicam assistant (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lydia Georgala	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Natasa Giagou	....	assistant costume designer
Ajda Oksum	....	assistant costume designer: Turkey
Katerina Theofanopoulou	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Nikos Adamopoulos	....	negative cutter
Apostolos Arhontas	....	colorist
Kostas Douros	....	video-tape editor
Hristos Eleftheriou	....	post-production coordinator
Panagiotis Eleftheriou	....	video-tape editor
Tony Ford	....	colorist
Stuart Gall	....	post-production supervising producer
Kostas Geronikolos	....	post-production coordinator
Giorgos Hampidis	....	post-production project manager
Takis Kardasis	....	negative developer
Manolis Katomeritis	....	post-production assistant
Karolina Kosmetatou	....	post-production coordinator
Thodoris Kostakis	....	post-production coordinator
Tasos Kotsiras	....	post-production assistant
Christos Manousakis	....	machine room operator
Giorgos Monogioudis	....	machine room operator
Evris Palios	....	telecine operator

Music Department
C. Bassi	....	musician: viola
Boyan Bonev	....	musician: viola
Valentina Borissova	....	musician: second violin
V. Celli	....	musician: viola
Cramena Christova	....	musician: viola
Beltcho Christov	....	musician: accordion
Ivan Christov	....	musician: mandolin
Teodora Constadinova	....	musician: first violin
Ivan Diakov	....	musician: first violin
Panos Dimitrakopoulos	....	musician: psalterion
Elena Dyakova	....	musician: viola
Mario Filipov	....	musician: first violin
Nicolay Grudanski	....	musician: woodwinds
Vladimir Gunev	....	musician: viola
Stefan Hinov	....	musician: first violin
Nikolinka Jordanova	....	musician: second violin
Vangelis Karipis	....	musician: percussion
Nasko Katzarov	....	musician: trumpet
Nikolai Katzarski	....	musician: second violin
Assya Kirilova	....	musician: viola
Boian Kirilov	....	musician: first violin
Giorgos Kontogiannis	....	musician: bouzouki
Giorgos Kontogiannis	....	musician: guitar
Theodoros Kotelanos	....	musician: piano
Petros Kourtis	....	musician: percussion
Radosvet Kukudov	....	musician: cymbals
Yana Lazarova-Stoyanova	....	musician: viola
Moiss Levy	....	musician: first violin
Galina Lubenova	....	musician: second violin
Kostas Mouroulis	....	score mixer
Tzaria Nikolova	....	musician: first violin
George Palikarsky	....	musician: first violin
Gratziella Panaiotova	....	musician: second violin
Vessela Pandinova	....	musician: second violin
Pascal Pascalev	....	musician: viola
Ivvan Peeff	....	concert master
Georgui Petkov	....	musician: viola
Bilyana Petrova	....	musician: viola
Georgui Petrov	....	musician: viola
Vladimir Popov	....	musician: viola
Dantcho Radevski	....	musician: percussion
Miroslav Raichev	....	musician: first violin
Yuri Risov	....	musician: woodwinds
Albina Selimsca	....	musician: harp
Anna Simonovska	....	musician: viola
Sokratis Sinopoulos	....	musician: lute
Sokratis Sinopoulos	....	musician: lyre
Stathis Skouropoulos	....	programmer: score
Boris Spassov	....	conductor
Maxim Spassov	....	musician: viola
Georgui Stoyanov	....	musician: viola
Sotir Stoyanov	....	musician: trumpet
Andreas Symvoulopoulos	....	programmer: score
Christo Tanev	....	musician: viola
Yassen Teodossiev	....	musician: clarinet
Hristos Terzis	....	musician: guitar
Teodora Treneva	....	musician: second violin
Hristos Tsiamoulis	....	musician: ney
Hristos Tsiamoulis	....	musician: oud
Emilia Tzekova	....	musician: second violin
Lilianna Vassileva	....	musician: first violin
Raina Voutchkova	....	musician: second violin
Konstadin Yotzov	....	musician: oboe

Transportation Department
Lambros Karageorgos	....	driver

Other crew
Stacy Abatzi	....	creative executive
Antonis Alexandris	....	legal counsel
Soula Bozi	....	special consultant
Kostas Darivakis	....	financial advisor
Ilkay Dogan	....	production coordinator: Turkey
Lydia Georgala	....	making-of
Goktug Gunal	....	production assistant: Turkey
Dimitris Hampesis	....	publicist
Hristina Hatzinikolaou	....	secretary
Anna Maria Iakovaki	....	marketing
Margarita Karra	....	marketing
Giorgos Kazakos	....	creative executive
Victoria King Voreadi	....	translator (as Victoria Andre King)
Marina Kokolodimitraki	....	publicist
Gianna Kollia	....	creative executive
Alexis Kollias	....	booking
Antigoni Koltsara	....	booking
Grigoris Komninos	....	operation manager
Giorgos Kororis	....	production assistant
Fenia Malaxou	....	marketing
Nancy Malerou	....	marketing
Rene Massara	....	production coordinator
Giannis Melahroinoudis	....	technical controller
Deniz Memisoglou	....	production assistant: Turkey
Dimitra Morou	....	booking
Hristina Pelekani	....	creative executive
Hristina Pigaki	....	legal counsel
Nikos Pittas	....	creative executive
Elisavet Psilopoulou	....	financial advisor
Katerina Raftopoulou	....	publicist
Manolis Stavroulakis	....	creative executive
Sevi Tsaousi	....	creative executive
Giorgos Tsesmetzoglou	....	translator
Dimitris Vernicos	....	scenario advisor
Margarita Yariou	....	script supervisor
Antigoni Zoga	....	production secretary
Bülent Turgut	....	marketing and sales director (uncredited)

Thanks
Petros Antoniadis	....	special thanks
Giorgos Bozopoulos	....	special thanks
Margarita Cadenas	....	special thanks
Rosalie Chorafas	....	special thanks (as Rosalie Corraface)
Konstadinos Dafermos	....	special thanks (as Kostas Panagopoulos)
Yannis Haralambidis	....	special thanks
Panayotis Kalantzopoulos	....	special thanks
Stelios Kalergis	....	special thanks
Alkis Kourkoulos	....	special thanks
Vassilis Leontiadis	....	special thanks
Emmy Leontiadou	....	special thanks
Haris Leontiadou	....	special thanks
Tony Manne	....	special thanks
Thanasis Manosis	....	special thanks
Despoina Mastrangelopoulou	....	special thanks
Savvas Mellopoulos	....	special thanks
Rob Meyers	....	special thanks (as Robert Meyers)
Nikos Ouzounoglou	....	special thanks
Zinos Panagiotidis	....	special thanks
Konstadinos Panagopoulos	....	special thanks (as Kostas Panagopoulos)
Grigoris Papagiotis	....	special thanks
Ioannis Papamihalakis	....	special thanks
Nikos Smaragdis	....	special thanks
Afroditi Theodorakakou	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Village Roadshow Productions
• Greek Film Center (co-production)
• FilmNet (co-production)
• Cinegram (co-production)
• ANS Production (co-production)
• ANS Yapim Yayin Reklamcilik AS (co-production)
• MC2 Productions (co-production)
• P. Papazoglou (co-production)
• Smallridge Investments (co-production)

Distributors

• Capitol Films (2003-) (worldwide) (all media)
• Distribution Company (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmhouse (2004) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• GAGA Communications (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Lady Film (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Menemsha Films (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Alamode Film (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (200?) (Spain) (DVD)
• Discovery Film & Video Distribution (2008) (Croatia) (DVD)
• E Stars Films (2004) (China) (TV)
• Filmfreak Distributie (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Imagem Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Imagem Filmes (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Total Film Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Village Roadshow Greece S.A. (2003) (Greece) (all media)

Special Effects

• Cinepos
• Magikon

Other Companies

• 7 Stars  scanning
• Anima  sequence
• Ants At Work  creative laboratory
• Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra  orchestra
• Ecumenical Patriarchate  special thanks
• Greek Film Center  special thanks
• Greek Fire Department  special thanks
• Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE)  special thanks
• Lavrion Technological & Cultural Park  special thanks
• Municipality of Athens  special thanks
• Municipality of Lavrio  special thanks
• Municipality of Palaio Faliro  special thanks
• National Observatory of Athens  special thanks
• National Technical University of Athens  special thanks
• Olympic Airways  special thanks
• PPV Athens  post-production
• Scouts of Greece  special thanks
• Sklavis Studio  copying
• Studio Cantini  score recording
• X-Rated Films  creative laboratory

Also Known As:

Πολίτικη Κουζίνα (Greece)
A Touch of Spice (International: English title)
Baharatin tadi (Turkey: Turkish title)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

Greece | Turkey

Language:

English | Greek | Turkish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Singapore:M18 | Spain:7 | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Australia:M | Brazil:Livre | Finland:S | Italy:T | Mexico:B | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

Athens, Greece

Company:

Village Roadshow Productions

Trivia:

Based on Tassos Boulmetis's personal experiences

Quotes:

Fanis Iakovides: Appetizers are similar to stories which tell of far away journey's flavours and aromas seduce your senses and prepare you for an adventurous journey. That's why the Greek word for return conceals within it the word turn, which conceals within it the word food.

A cinematic masterpiece of the 21st century ... Tastefully done!

One of the BEST films (Foreign or English-speaking) that I have seen in the last decade! Hollywood take note, this is one Oscar-worthy Greek film with breathtaking cinematography, beautiful music, a clever screenplay and a great cast. In a nostalgic way, it will remind the moviegoer that both food and life require 'a touch of spice' to achieve that extra flavor. A heart-warming yet bittersweet story about a special bond that forms between a grandfather/mentor and his grandson, when he was a little boy, which lingers throughout his life as a teenager and, finally, as an adult ... with a mix of politics during those times. And the pretty young girl, who dances for him ... It will make you laugh; it will make you cry and, most likely, you will also leave the cinema wishing it did not end.