2024-03-06 00:56:17
The “forbidden” film starring Alekos Alexandrakis will be brought to life this time in the hall of the legendary Zephyros.
Fifty years after its first screening in dark theaters, “The Dream District” comes back to life. Rikos, Stefania, Nekrophoras and the rest of the gang of Asirmatos, the poor neighborhood of Athens, take their place on the cinematic celluloid and invite us on a nostalgic tour of the “other” side of the capital. That of the poor neighborhood and the popular quarter, which barely resembles the touristic and “comme il faut” side of the city.
This masterpiece of Greek cinema – one of the few Greek films shot in the style of Italian neorealism – is back in the dark theaters from June 9. Not everywhere, however, but at the Zefyros cinema, the cinephile hangout of Ano Petraloni, the area where the legendary film by Alekos Alexandrakis was filmed.
Of course, the history of the film is not only accompanied by successes and awards, but also many problems related to its controversial – for the time – premise. It is characteristic that its first screening was staged, as the Police tried to prevent the public from entering the cinema and watching it essentially ended up being an act of resistance.
And this is because its unconventional heroes, the poor, the social outcasts and the petty criminals, contradicted the image of the Greeks that its opponents and censors wanted to project.
The result, of course, was that the film was not shown in the provincial towns – for the so-called “nationally sensitive areas” a strict prohibition order was issued – but only in the urban centers.
“The “Dream Apartment” was censored and a police director, who stopped its showing, told us: “What things are you showing? In Greece, there are no hungry or crazy people walking around free. You are spreading communist propaganda.” Fortunately, Eleni Vlachou protested and the screening of the film was finally allowed, even if it was truncated”, the director and star of the film, Alekos Alexandrakis, had said in an interview. Aliki Georgoulis was by his side in a leading role.
Even under these conditions, however, the critics of the time called it a “masterpiece”, speaking flatteringly not only of its documentary look but also of the wonderful musical score by Mikis Theodorakis (here you can hear the leading folk song “It’s raining in the slum” under the voice of Grigoris Bithikotsis). The piece, in lyrics by the poet Tasos Livaditis, became an “anthem” of the poor and constitutes one of the most important folk moments in the history of Greek song.
The film, despite the bans, was screened in 1961 both at the Thessaloniki Film Festival and at the Moscow Film Festival. In fact, at the Thessaloniki Festival he won two awards (that of the second male role for the interpretation of Manos Katrakis, but also a photography award).
The re-release of the film in question will be accompanied by parallel cultural events, the announcement of which will be made in the coming days.
Info: At the Zefyro cinema (Troon 36, Thisio) from June 9.
Iota Vazoura
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