Trilogia: To livadi pou dakryzei (2004)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Theodoros Angelopoulos

Writers:

Theodoros Angelopoulos (idea)
Theodoros Angelopoulos (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 February 2004 (Greece)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Plot:

This is the first film of Theo Angelopoulos' trilogy. The story starts in 1919 with some greek refugees...

Plot Keywords:

Refugee | Village | Poetic | Early 20th Century | Fascism

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Alexandra Aidini	...	Eleni
Nikos Poursanidis	...	Mihalis
Giorgos Armenis	...	Nikos
Vassilis Kolovos	...	Spyros
Eva Kotamanidou	...	Kassandra
Toula Stathopoulou	...	Woman in the Coffee House
Thalia Argiriou	...	Danai
Smaro Gaitanidou
Mihalis Giannatos	...	Zisis
Grigoris Evangelatos	...	Teacher
Aliki Kamineli
Amdromachi Chrisomelli
Alex Moukanos
Dimitris Kolovos
Thodoros Teknetzidis

Also Known As:

Τριλογία 1: Το Λιβάδι που δακρύζει (Greece)
Eleni (France)
La sorgente del fiume (Italy)
La terre qui pleure (France)
The Weeping Meadow (Europe: English title)
Trilogie: Die Erde weint (Germany)
Trilogy: The Weeping Meadow (International: English title)

Runtime:

Greece:185 min | Canada:170 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:170 min

Country:

Greece | France | Italy | Germany

Language:

Greek

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Australia:PG | Netherlands:MG6 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Thessaloniki, Greece

Company:

Hellenic Radio & Television (ERT)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nea Odyssos, to horio tou nerou (2008)

Soundtrack:

Eimai erotevmenos me ta matia sou

amazing, interactive, fulfilling

I had watched years ago some older films of Aggelopoulos and i was expecting a slow movie, with minimal dialogues, many symbolisms, weak plot and superb photography. I got exactly what i expected and something more: i left the theatre with an extreme satisfaction.

The film: Greece roughly between 1920 and 1950 (but it is so current and contemporary because it deals with global, recurring themes). The life of the nation through events: national catastrophes, refugees, social and political unrest, world and civil wars. The life of the person through emotions: love, lust, pride, hope, love, desperation, ambition, love, death. And many symbolisms and extremely powerful and beautiful scenes with references from ancient myths to current international affairs. And rain, lots of rain :-) The plot and the development of the characters may appear weak. We are used to ready meals from the business of cinema, which overwhelm us with fast dialogues, "strong" performances and "exciting" situations. And that's fine. But cinema and people need also the approach of Aggelopoulos, we need some space and time, to reflect and realise our existence. "To Livadi pou dakryzei" gives more freedom and time to the viewer to participate with his feelings and memories and thoughts. That's exactly interactive art.

These are some of my interpretations of some scenes: village flooding (Climate Change and the forces of Nature), immigration/separation (departure of my girlfriend), mother crying over her soldier sons dead bodies (this is a real war scene, not the computer games style). You will identify with other scenes (everyone has an opinion, right ?) and you will feel alive.

I am grateful to Aggelopoulos for giving me the chance to look inside myself, remember, sigh, think.