Eternity and a Day (1998)

Famous writer Alexander is very ill and has little time left to live. He meets a little boy on the street, who is an illegal immigrant from Albania, and goes on a journey with him to take the boy home.

Director:

Theodoros Angelopoulos (as Theo Angelopoulos)

Writers:

Theodoros Angelopoulos (as Theo Angelopoulos), Tonino Guerra (co-writer)

Stars:

Bruno Ganz, Isabelle Renauld, Fabrizio Bentivoglio

9 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Bruno Ganz	...	Alexandros
Isabelle Renauld	...	Anna
Fabrizio Bentivoglio	...	The Poet
Achileas Skevis	...	The Child
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lazaros Andreou	...	(as Lazarus Andreou)
Aristotelis Aposkitis	...	(as Aristotle Aposkitis)
Despina Bebedelli	...	Alexandros' Mother (as Despina Bebedeli)
Iris Chatziantoniou	...	Alexandros' Daughter
Dimitris Fotsinos-Safrantzas	...	Kid (as Dimitri Fotsinos-Safrantzas)
Petros Fyssoun	...	Alexandros (voice) (as Petros Fissoun)
Eleni Gerasimidou	...	Ourania
Rony Gianari
Milena Giannakidou	...	(as Milena Gianakidou)
Mihalis Giannatos	...	Ticket Inspector (as Mihalis Yanatos)
Themis Gousoulis	...	Kid

Storyline

Alexander, an old writer, is ill and prepared to die. He says his goodbyes and recalls his life with his wife long ago. While driving his car he saves a street kid, an illegal immigrant from Albania, from being arrested. Later in the day, by chance, he sees the same boy being abducted, and follows in his car. Although he is preoccupied with his own regrets, he puts death on hold to find a way to help the boy.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | illegal immigrant | street kid | death | bus ride | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Artistic License Films

Country:

France Italy Greece Germany

Language:

Greek English Italian

Release Date:

28 May 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eternity and a Day

Filming Locations:

Thessaloniki, Greece

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$24,221, 30 May 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$106,486, 3 October 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paradis Films,Intermédias,La Sept Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

137 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marcello Mastroianni was to have played the lead role but withdrew due to ill health.

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Goofs

When the child goes to see his dead friend Selim in the morgue, we can see Selim's right eyelid slightly blinking just after the child closes the door.

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Quotes

Alexandre: I know that one you will leave. The wind pushes your eyes away but today give me this day as if it was the last.

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Connections

Follows To meteoro vima tou pelargou (1991)

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Soundtracks

Asma asmaton
Music by Mikis Theodorakis
Lyrics Iakovos Kabanellis

User Reviews

wonderful film

What a beautiful film. Dreamlike, poetic, wise; also sober, down-to-earth.

Delivers home-truths too: connecting with another human being gives one hope. Connections are possible across age, country, culture gaps. The images are gorgeous, the slowness fits. You have to sit on your impatience now and then. But thats entirely worth it.

Also, I loved listening to the Greek language. But that is because I love Greece.

It is a film that reminds me of Antonioni's L'Avventura and La Notte; they bring you into a trance where you can tell the beauty of this universe.