No Sympathy for the Devil (1997) Kamia sympatheia gia ton Diavolo

Director: Dimitris Athanitis
Writer: Dimitris Athanitis
Stars: Kostas Kazanas, Lena Kitsopoulou, Giorgos Kotanidis

A modern version of Orpheus and Eurydice. A romance in extremes set at a dystopian future by the acclaimed Greek director Dimitri Athanitis. Provocative, already a cult film. After being released from prison, Eurydice gets a job as a waitress but also as a naked model for a mysterious photographer who blackmails her. Orpheus, a cashier at a super market meets her by chance and falls for her at once. When he loses her, he shall travel all the way to hell, to get her back. Dimitri Athanitis's take on the "Orpheus and Eurydice" myth is stylish and sexy. Lena Kitsipoulou is totally magnetic for her fellow characters and the viewer.

It's really surprising to discover a film like this. The story is a sort of cross between Romeo and Juliet, Orpheus and Eurydice set against the backdrop of a squalid decaying city in which the only that shines is their love. And although the time is supposed to be the future, there is no scenery, no special effects.

The film is obviously shot on location in the seediest sections of Athens, from strip clubs and porn theaters to dark underpasses and all these, with the help of a extravagant black and white photography, create a strange timeless atmosphere, that could be a future but also a past. This dark dirty scenery is juxtaposing the ugliness and the cruelty of inner city life against the purity of the couple's passion.

Eurydice is a vamp-like waif , and becomes the obsession of an ordinary guy, Orpheus. But she is also the obsession of another dark character, police officer and something more. After his stunning debut with Antio Verolino (1994), Athanitis shows here that he has a magic cinematic touch driving us in a strange aesthetic and sentimental trip which is unique.

The film has something from mute Hollywood or German movies and at the same time rolls like a Marilyn Manson video. Really surprising, extremely fascinating. But what is the big surprise, is that the film seems to be set in the Athens of 2013, the era of crisis, as if it was shot yesterday and not some fifteen years before.

More in My Blog