Introducing some Greek island-style movies, preferably modern ones

The first foreign film in Greece was screened in Athens in 1900. Documentary filming began in 1906. From 1911 to 1912, several short comedies were filmed, all directed by S. Dimitrapoulos, starring himself and French actor M. Lindet. In 1914, S.C. Bahatoris opened the Athens Film Company, and normal film production began in Greece. During World War I, newsreels were mainly produced covering the war. In 1925, director D. Frachanos shot the feature film "The Abandoned by Fate". From 1927 to 1931, the Kagiadis brothers founded the Dago Film Company, which produced historical films and films based on literary works. Such as director D. Kagiadis's "Love and Waves" (1927) and "Prometheus Bound" (adapted from the work of the ancient Greek tragic poet Aeschylus).

In 1931, director O. Laskos adapted the novel "Daphnis and Heroa" by the ancient Greek writer Longos in a novel way. The film of the same name is beautiful and poetic. It was the first international success for a Greek film. In 1932, the first Greek talkie feature film "Bad Way" (directed by D. Kagiadis) came out. During the dictatorship of General Metaxas and the fascist occupation, newsreels were mainly produced in Greece. Among the few feature films, the better ones include "Farewell Song" (1939, directed by F. Finos and T. Skuras), "The Voice in the Heart" (1943, directed by L. Yonopoulos), " Applause" (1943, directed by G. Chavilas). After 1944 the annual production of Greek films increased. In the late 1940s, 8 to 10 feature films were produced annually. Most of them are melodramatic films about joys and sorrows. Such as "Marinos Kondalas" (1948, director G. Chavilas), "The Last Mission" (1949, director N. Chiforos).

After 1950, a new generation of film workers grew up. The film creations of this period were influenced by Italian neorealism, such as director G. Grigoriou's "Hard Bread" (1951). Films that reflect the problems of modern life in Greece include "The Counterfeit Coin" (1955, directed by G. Chavilas), "A Bloody Christmas" (1951) and "The Bay of Lust" (1957, the latter two films were both directed by G. Zervos). "Stella" (1955) and "The Lady in Black" (1957) directed by M. Kakoyanis. The two films used realism techniques and were full of human touch, and were deeply praised by the audience. After that, he adapted the work "Electra" (1961) by the ancient Greek tragic poet Euripides. Director N. Kondulos shot the excellent feature film "Magic City" (1954). Later, he filmed "The Secret Worker" (1958) and "Young Aphrodite" (1963), which have a lyrical style. In the mid-1960s, Greek films added a group of progressive young film workers. They dare to raise social and political issues pointedly. Such as "Manhunt" (1965, director A. Kiru), "Until the Boat" (1966, director D. Damianos), "Face to Face" (1967, director R. Manturis), "Disorder" "The Shepherd" (1968, directed by N. Papadakis), etc.

In the 1960s, the annual production of feature films rose to 100 to 120. During the military dictatorship, progressive films were prohibited from being produced, and directors such as M. Cacoyannis, N. Kondulos, R. Manturis, and A. Grivas lived abroad one after another. During those years, so-called "patriotic" films were encouraged, and spy-thrillers were also produced. Progressive directors secretly shot political films, such as "Ancient Erion" (1969, directed by D. Geos) and "Greece of the Christian Greeks" (1970, directed by K. Heronopoulos).

In 1974, film production dropped to 45 films. Despite the strict censorship, several politically and artistically better works appeared at the end of the military dictatorship, such as The Transformation of T. Angelopoulos (1970) and 36 Years of Days (1970). 1972), "Anna Proposes" (1972) by P. Ulkaris. After the end of the dictatorship, Greece produced some films that exposed the crimes of the monarchy's dictatorship, such as "Manifesto" (1974, directed by A. Lepeniotis), "Evidence" (1975, directed by N. Kaunidis) ), "Happy Day" (1976, director P. Ulkaris). Films describing the poor life of Greek farmers include "Because of a Trivial Thing" (1974, directed by T. Psalas) and "Heavy Melon" (1977, directed by P. Dacios). The films "The Pretender" (1975) and "The Hunter" (1977) are two distinctive films directed by T. Angelopoulos. His "Alexander the Great" (1981) depicts the Greek people's struggle against tyranny during World War II and the years after. Several of his films that use modern film methods to express the literary heritage of ancient Greece have also received international acclaim. In 1977, director M. Kakoyanis filmed the film "Iphigenia" based on the tragedy of the ancient Greek tragic poet Euripides.

In 1978, the films "The Sluggard of the Fertile Valley" (directed by N. Paneiotopoulos) and "Gentlemen!" were produced, which satirized modern Greek bourgeois society. "(Director M. Manusakis).

Greek film production organizations include Finos Film Company, Alpha Film Company, and Pharos Film Company. In 1981, 22 feature films were produced. The city of Athens houses the National Film Archive. In 1960, a national film festival was held in Thessaloniki, which was expanded to the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in 1972.