Greek

The course is focused on the Greek cinema of the last 50 years and its connection with Modern Greek history. The tragic events of the Greek disaster in Asia Minor (1922), the interwar period, the Civil War (1946-1949) and the military junta (1967-1974) are the main points of reference of most of the Greek film directors examined. Other themes of their films are the depopulation of rural villages during the mid-20th century, the urbanization and emigration, the relations between men and women, the isolation and the condition of women especially in small towns, the struggle for identity and the connection of modern Greece and the ancient Greek civilization. The Greek film directors are distinguished by an increasing awareness of the social problems and the human condition in an unfriendly world because of the wars, struggle for power and serious threats to a decent and harmonious life. Sometimes there is a fusion of reality, nostalgia and dreams given in a poetic and moving way. The connection of cinema and history with literature and art is going also to be pointed out. In this context, several films by Theo Angelopoulos, Michael Cacoyannis, Pantelis Voulgaris, Tassos Boulmetis and Yannis Smaragdis are screened and discussed.