Nikos Koundouros - O Drakos (1956) aka The dragon

A peaceful innocent man is mistaken for a serial ravisher and killer who looks very much like him. He finds himself on the run by everyone that knows him, and finally hides inside a night club owned by small crooks. In his face, they see the leader that will give them everything they desire…





ARGUMENTO:
Un solitario empleado de banco, de gran parecido con un notorio criminal, es confundido y aceptado como tal por los miembros de una banda que prepara un gran golpe…





This is the first Greek film of that "Artistic" nature, that years later would almost destroy the Greek cinema. But in the 50's it was a great novelty for the local production. On a first level, it's talking about the story of a little man who is tiered of being this little man and decides that he 'd rather have the short but glorious life of a famous criminal. His borrowed reputation, soon gets him the tragic but exceptional end that he almost is wishing for. Still, this is not really a crime movie! It's a political film, made in a time when this was not permited by the authorities. The wounds from the wars that passed, the 2nd world war and the Greek civil war (a taboo topic at the time), are obvious to the viewer with eyes open. The poverty that dooms the life of the nation and the influence of the USA in Greece, not by their model of life but with their unethical, political involvements, is underlined with the only way that it was possible for the Greek cinema of the time! A beautiful, lyrical tragedy, with a message to read between the lines.

THE TEN BEST FILMS
OF THE GREEK FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

1. O Drakos, Ν. Koundouros
2. Evdokia, Α. Damianos smiley
3. O Thiasos (The travelling players), Th. Angelopoulos
4. The photograph, Ν. Papatakis
5. Stella, Μ. Kakoyannis
6. Kalpiki Lira (The counterfeit coin), G. Tzavelas
7. Rebetiko, Κ. Ferris
8. I Anaparastasi (Reconstruction), Th. Angelopoulos
9. Glikia simoria (Sweet bunch), Ν. Nikolaidis and
I earini synaxis ton agrofylakon (The spring gathering), D.
Abdeliotos (tied)
10. Karkalou, S. Tornes

A true masterpiece. Enjoy!