The Weeping Meadow (2004)

  • NR
  • 10/08/2004 (US)
  • Drama, History
  • 2h 49m

Overview

The first part of an incomplete trilogy telling the story of the greek people. The film begins in 1919, with Greek immigrants from Odessa arriving near Thessaloniki. Led by the charismatic Spyros, they establish a new settlement in the delta of a river. The youngest of the settlers are Spyros' son Alexis and an orphan from Odessa, Eleni. A strong, almost incestuous affection develops between the teenagers, resulting in twins who are given to a foster family. Also standing in the way of love is Spyros, determined to take his foster daughter as his wife. The lovers then decide to flee the village, persecuted by their father, leading a life of exile. As Alexis joins a group of musicians planning to go to the United States, Eleni regains custody of the twins. Angelopoulos, as in previous films, looks at the sacrifice of civilians confronted by the workers' demonstrations of 1935, the rule of Metaxas' fascist junta and forced emigration to America, and finally the civil war of 1944-1949.

Theo Angelopoulos

Director, Writer

Tonino Guerra

Writer

Petros Markaris

Writer

Giorgio Silvagni

Writer

Cast

Alexandra Aidini's headshot

Alexandra Aidini

Eleni
Nikos Poursanidis's headshot

Nikos Poursanidis

Alexis
Giorgos Armenis's headshot

Giorgos Armenis

Nikos
Vasilis Kolovos's headshot

Vasilis Kolovos

Spyros
Eva Kotamanidou's headshot

Eva Kotamanidou

Kassandra
Toula Stathopoulou's headshot

Toula Stathopoulou

Woman in the Coffee House
Thalia Argyriou's headshot

Thalia Argyriou

Danai
Smaro Gaitanidou's headshot

Smaro Gaitanidou

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