9 fascinating films about modern Greece

1. Never on Sunday

Greece, 1960.
A romantic comedy.
Duration: 97 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 3.

American philologist Homer worships everything connected with Greece. He sets out to set on the path of a true prostitute named Elijah, who basically does not go to work on Sunday.

A gentle, light and romantic film directed by Jules Dassin, playfully reinterprets the ancient Greek myth of Galatea and Pygmalion. In 1961, the tape received an Oscar for the best song, which was called the same as the picture - Never on Sunday. Subsequently, this composition even entered the top ten most commercial songs of the 20th century.

2. Greek Zorba

USA, Greece, Great Britain, 1964.
Drama.
Duration: 142 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 7.

Basil, a young Englishman of Greek descent, is sent to Crete to receive an inheritance. On the way to assistants, a local resident Alexis Zorba, who is unceremonious in appearance, but kind inside, is imposed on the writer.

Many have probably heard about the Greek dance sirtaki at least once, or at least remember the melody to which it is usually performed. Only now it is not popular, as you might think, and appeared relatively recently. In fact, the characteristic movements and even the music were created especially for the tape by Michalis Kakoyannis.

The audience liked this scene so much that after the release of the picture of sirtaki performed by Anthony Quinn, it instantly became a symbol of Greece. Gradually, everyone somehow forgot that this was a dance from a film, and they remember it only occasionally.

3. Shirley Valentine

Great Britain, USA, 1989.
Drama, melodrama, comedy.
Duration: 108 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 2.

British housewife Shirley Valentine, tired of everyday life, goes with her friend on a two-week trip to Greece. And there, a charming tavern owner named Kostas gives her back a sense of the fullness of being.

The role of Shirley Valentine was played by British actress Pauline Collins. For this she received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, and also received a BAFTA award.

The first half of the film takes place in England. It rains endlessly here, and eggs and fried potatoes, which the wife cooked on the wrong day, can serve as a reason for a marital quarrel. But in the second part of the picture there is a lot of sea, air, space and national Greek flavor.

4. Choosing Captain Corelli

USA, France, UK, 2001.
Melodrama, military.
Duration: 120 minutes.
IMDb: 5, 9.

Films about Greece: "Captain Corelli's Choice"

The events take place on a Greek island during the Second World War. The beautiful and educated daughter of the doctor Pelageya falls in love with the simple fisherman Mandras, but the groom soon leaves for the front. Meanwhile, the Italian captain Antonio Corelli, a merry fellow and a big fan of playing the mandolin, appears in their house. He is very annoying to Pelageya, but, looking closer at the military, she realizes that a man is capable of deep feelings.

It is difficult to think of a more suitable setting for a romantic story than the idyllic nature of Greece. Especially if there were such wonderful actors as John Hurt, Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz and Christian Bale nearby.

Moreover, at least two of them appear in unexpected roles. So, Cage surprisingly organically looks in the role of a military man in love, despite his fame as a constantly overacting artist. Well, Bale played a naive village idiot who later turned into a reference fighter.

5. My big Greek wedding

USA, Canada, 2002.
A romantic comedy.
Duration: 95 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 6.

A resident of Chicago Tula Portocalos, a Greek by birth, dreams of finding family happiness. Finally, love appears in her life. But the girl's numerous relatives are unhappy that her chosen one is an American, not a Greek.

Canadian Nia Vardalos wrote the script based on her own life and she herself played the main role in the film. She shows national characteristics with great tenderness, although she laughs at them a little. As well as over too strong adherence of compatriots to traditions.

6. Mamma MIA

USA, UK, Germany, 2008.
Musical, melodrama, comedy.
Duration: 108 minutes.
IMDb: 6, 4.

Sophie Sheridan is preparing for a wedding with a Greek boyfriend and wants to invite her father to the holiday, although she has never seen him. In her mother's diary, the girl finds a mention of her three former boyfriends and invites all of them to the celebration.

This film is an adaptation of the famous Broadway musical based on the songs of the great group ABBA. In addition to enchanting musical numbers, the picture also pleases the cast: after all, not every day Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgard get together in one picture.

7. My big Greek summer

USA, Spain, 2009.
Melodrama, comedy.
Duration: 95 minutes.
IMDb: 5, 9.

American Georgia comes to Athens to teach at the university. But she is fired, and the heroine has to temporarily work as a bus guide. A competing guide and a gloomy bearded driver add to her problems.

Another work by Nia Vardalos, the creator of The Great Greek Wedding. The film is full of references to national culture: for example, Georgia sings the song Never on Sunday from the movie "Never on Sunday" on the beach. There are also more obvious details - Acropolis, Greek salad, "300 Spartans" and sirtaki.

8. Lost Arcadia

USA, 2010.
Drama.
Duration: 83 minutes.
IMDb: 5, 9.

The young rebel Charlotte and her half-brother Sai find themselves alone on the scorched Greek soil and go in search of their parents. They take a crazy old philosopher named Benerjee to their company.

The director and part-time cameraman Fidon Papamichael made the film not at all for a wide audience. Rather, it is an existential parable with no particular plot. But those who love unhurried auteur cinema will definitely like Lost Arcadia.

9. Before midnight

USA, Greece, 2013.
Drama, melodrama.
Duration: 109 minutes.
IMDb: 7, 9.

The end of the Richard Linklater saga, which began with the films Before Dawn and Before Sunset. The heroes are the same: American Jesse and Frenchwoman Celine, who once met on the train on the way to Vienna. They are a little over forty, they are spouses and have two children. And now they are going to visit their old friends in Greece.

Before including this picture, you must definitely see the previous parts of the trilogy with the same actors and characters, only younger. Then the viewing experience will be much brighter.