"Vortex" is a very bizarre and experimental Greek film; with a style thats reminiscent of Bergman, Antonioni, early Polanski, Jodorowsky and Arrabal. To be honest, it's really hard to describe. "Vortex" is a movie within a movie and is shown out of sequence with repeated takes. The story gets interrupted repeatedly with the click of the director's marquis. He yells "Vortex, Take 20 etc. etc. etc."! So it's hard to decipher if a story is taking place or if your watching behind the scenes of a movie. What's surprising is that the film was made in 1966 and contains both frontal male and female nudity, a lengthy sex scene and even the use of the F-word. (the only version I know about exists in English) It was hard to tell what the exact plot was; the story also had something to do with the Greek myth of Medusa. It seemed to be about friends on vacation and going on a sort of boating trip. One man asks the girl if she has seen his brother? Then the film has a flashback of the brother's sexual encounter with the beautiful lady while in England. They then here news that the brother is now dead. Scenes keep repeating themselves over and over, but along the way we're treated to a good looking Greek cast, bizarre images and beautiful architecture . The film is shot in black and white and images appear to jump right out because of the chiaroscuro landscapes. The film's music is haunting and mystical. Among the scenes that I remembered the most were; the skull on the scarecrow, face painting while the performance of bongo drums, and the female actress reattaching the leg of a creepy doll in the water. "Vortex" was very ahead of its time in its on screen portrayal of sexuality. "Vortex" is very unique; I wonder why it has seemed to of faded into obscurity?
2 Reviews
To prosopo tis Medusa's or The face of Medusa. Previously known as VORTEX
sedz6 August 2006
Everything initiates from Greek Tragedy in this plot. However, does "Catharsis" exists?
In a Greek remote location, the protagonists enter in a self destructive behavior initiated by a young female. She is the medusa. A stranger looks at her and decides to stay with the group. Previously the brother of her boyfriend, who had sex with her, ended up dead. The movie ends with a knife, and an intent to kill.
Death for love, love and death, or deadly love? The moral? It was difficult for me to find a moral on the film. It seems that either Koundouros does not want to adhere to the Platonic purpose of art, or, I was not capable of understanding the moral.
To my belief Koundouros tries to take a shot, to depict a vivid aspect of life. I wonder however why he constantly refuses to show the beauty of the Greek scenery. Why scenes focus on people like profiles that would be taken from amateur photographers.
On the contrary he shows several scenes of the filming crew (actors themselves) while this has the effect of detaching the viewer from the "reality" of the movie.
A lot could be said about this film. It is indeed difficult to understand, it takes patience and insight, and certainly it would be difficult for someone not initiated in Greek culture to appreciate the philosophical connotations of the plot or even specific scenes.
Koundouros did an amazing job making the scene speak of itself, however I also believe he said that this film needs "the help of the viewer". He was right.
In a Greek remote location, the protagonists enter in a self destructive behavior initiated by a young female. She is the medusa. A stranger looks at her and decides to stay with the group. Previously the brother of her boyfriend, who had sex with her, ended up dead. The movie ends with a knife, and an intent to kill.
Death for love, love and death, or deadly love? The moral? It was difficult for me to find a moral on the film. It seems that either Koundouros does not want to adhere to the Platonic purpose of art, or, I was not capable of understanding the moral.
To my belief Koundouros tries to take a shot, to depict a vivid aspect of life. I wonder however why he constantly refuses to show the beauty of the Greek scenery. Why scenes focus on people like profiles that would be taken from amateur photographers.
On the contrary he shows several scenes of the filming crew (actors themselves) while this has the effect of detaching the viewer from the "reality" of the movie.
A lot could be said about this film. It is indeed difficult to understand, it takes patience and insight, and certainly it would be difficult for someone not initiated in Greek culture to appreciate the philosophical connotations of the plot or even specific scenes.
Koundouros did an amazing job making the scene speak of itself, however I also believe he said that this film needs "the help of the viewer". He was right.
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