Ο ελληνικός κινηματογράφος στην καρδιά της Νέας Υόρκης
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
First it was non-stop laughter from the packed-house audience at the U.S. premiere of Greek director Thodoris Atheridis’ PERFECT STRANGERS on Opening Night of the 11th Annual New York City Greek Film Festival (NYCGFF), September 28.Then it was shock.
But we won’t give out the reason why because PERFECT STRANGERS plays again on Sunday, Oct 1 at the Directors Guild Theater, 57th Street. It’s enough to quote Atheridis’comment to the audience about the film’s timely message. Particularly today, with the ubiquitous use of cell phones, he said, “… no one really knows anyone else. We are all strangers.Technology is the most democratic thing in the world,but it is a very difficult thing to handle.”
PERFECT STRANGERS, which opened in Athens on Christmas, 2016, went on to become a major hit in Greece, and it’s a great movie to open this year’s edition of the festival.
A satire, PERFECT STRANGERS is a comedy, yes, but the ebullient Atheridis, who was present at the showing with his partner, Greek film and TV star Smaragda Karidi (both star in the film) said he learned from the five Italian writers of PERFECT STRANGERS that while commedia dell’arte plots are funny, they are tragic, as well. Atheridis told the audience that he didn’t make any changes in his transcription of the Italian dialogue into Greek other than necessary additions to emphasize Greek situations, such the mention of olive groves on Aegina, because “There is nothing worse than changing someone else’s masterpiece.”
In a random survey of viewers at the exit everyone to a person said that the movie’s situational elements are “very funny”, and the “heavily Greek” (in Atherides’ words) repartee is “very funny”.
The latter opinion hasn’t always been Greek Americans’ assessment of Greek humor, soit was clear that the New York City Greek Film Festival audiences are up for entertainment.It’s been proven that for Greeks film events are truly entertaining when food (and conversation) are included. The 11th Annual New York City Greek Film Festival Opening Night Gala more than satisfied that urge.