Glifada Reviews

Lie with Me (2022)

What a surprise!

[10/10 · 9 November 2023]

This is the 100% perfect movie!

Everything in it is as it should be: an interesting life story that carries an important and emotional message, wise direction, excellent actors (even episodic ones such as Jérémy Gilles or Guillain Londez), fine French landscapes and discreet music, amazing cinematography, feelings and the aroma of nostalgia delivered in a very subtle way... Many of us have similar ghosts of the past and that is why the film especially affects older viewers. However, to really immerse yourself in this fantastic film, you need to watch it more than once. Only then will you be able to enjoy so many nuanced details that abound in this film making it truly unforgettable! 10/10.

Palma (2021)

Excellent!

[10/10 · 7 February 2022]

Wonderful movie! What a nice surprise from Russian cinematography: the 'western' way of telling a story, filming, acting, editing, and all that with the Russian soul. It was a great pleasure to watch it throughout with eyes and heart filled with emotions! I have no objections, not at all. 10/10.

I Carry You with Me (2020)

Good!

[8/10 · 24 September 2021]

As already pointed out, this is a good and interesting hybrid documentary-feature film based on a true story, where the real subjects of the drama, the Mexican gay couple Ivan and Gerardo, appear alongside the actors. The film is an intimate portrait of the personal sacrifices that immigrants endure in order to realize their American dream. Intertwined scenes from the present and the past require from the viewer a certain level of concentration.

P. S. It's not a classic LGBT+ movie and apart from a couple of male kisses there's nothing provocative for the wider audience. The provocation here exists but it is clearly of social and political nature!

Saving Paradise (2021)

Simply, nice!

[9/10 · 10 September 2021]

Whatever you could call it ("Hallmark type", "old fashioned", "in the spirit of the 70s", "cheesy movie", "sentimental lemonade", etc.), this is really a nice film that evokes positive emotions and, possibly, some tears despite its happy ending. There is no violence here, no sex, no vulgarity, no zombies and no intergalactic wars. P. S. George Steeves is really great in the role of an autistic employee! Watch this movie to feel much better!

The Bay (2019– )

More than just well-done

[10/10 · 23 May 2021]

This is really a great mini series (2 seasons) with interesting plot, excellent actors, flawless camera, attractive landscapes, fantastic British atmosphere and musical background. All in all, I enjoyed watching all 12 episodes. Honestly, I don't understand the low ratings for this series which is more than just well done.

Kralj (2021)

Waiting for more episodes... dissatisfaction grows!

[5/10 · 16 March 2021]

I don't know how this series will go on, but the first episode doesn't promise very much. Everything is slowed down, the dialogues are unconvincing, the actors are both good and not so good, but the scenography bothers me the most because everything seems like a play in theatrical setting. In any case, one should wait to see more episodes before passing judgements, right?

29.03.2021 Unfortunately, everything seems to be moving towards a bad result. Each new episode seems even less interesting, the acting is artificial, the dialogues are like a recital performance, the scenography is strikingly bad (especially scenes 'in the snow' in the third episode, as if they were filmed for a children's show!). I'm so disappointed!

Sublet (2020)

Nice to watch

[8/10 · 1 February 2021]

John Benjamin Hickey, Niv Nissim, Tel Aviv! And all three intrinsically and visually erotic. Enough to enjoy!

Patria (2020)

Better than expected!

[9/10 · 11 November 2020]

This has been my first experience with Basque cinematography, and what an experience! A moving and deeply emotional story is perfectly presented by directors Óscar Pedraza and Félix Viscarret and by the group of fantastic actors such as Elena Irureta, Ane Gabarain as Miren (!), Mikel Laskurain and Loreto Mauleón as Arantxa (!). The atmosphere of the gloomy, rainy and humid ambience of Bilbao and San Sebastian is brilliantly displayed. Everything is realistic, especially the dialogues. The camera and editing are surprisingly good, who would say that Basque cinema is at that level. This came as a complete surprise to me and I really enjoyed watching this miniseries. Highly recommended!

Our Boys (2019)

A brave, credible, honest, well-acted and well-made TV series

[10/10 · 20 September 2019]

Simply, excellent! This is one of the best mini-series made with really amazing actors such as Adam Gabay in the role of Avishy (one of the best roles I have ever seen in movies, really deserving an Oscar!), or charismatic Shlomi Elkabetz in the role of the steady and sedate inspector Simon. Please notice that the actual rating has nothing to do with the quality of this production; it is an outcome of one's political selfishness, animosity and estrangement.

Lilting (2014)

Probably the best one in its category!

[10/10 · 14 October 2015]

I have watched this movie several times and every time I tremendously enjoyed it: its theme, its ambiance, its atmosphere, its actors, its camera, its music, its dialogues, its editing, and most of all its directing…

For me, this is really a marvelous piece of art, so gentle, emotional, responsive, so well-balanced and, hence, so… beautiful!

This movie is the best example that a gay relationship and all contradictions with respect to it can be represented in a discrete, dignified and distinct way.

This is what makes this movie so different from all the others with a similar theme. Simply excellent: 10!

Angelos (1982)

Athens as it once was.

[8/10 · 13 October 2012]

I saw "Angelos" at a film festival in the 1980s, and watched it again on the web after almost three decades.

This movie has two essential qualities: courage and honesty. It was not easy to introduce viewers to this topic in 1982, and particularly not in such an open and "picturesque" way. Life on the margins has always existed, but the eyes of the (Greek) public were mainly closed. Most people did not want to see and acknowledge it. Therefore, the appearance of this movie caused such a big shock and reluctance.

On the other hand, the movie honestly shows that a bitter subject it engages with permeates various social milieus and communities, in this case the environment of poverty and despair. The scenes of "weird" transvestites' night life in Athens of the 1970-80s reflect the real situation on spot at the time, but such things have probably changed since then (have they really?), taking at least a different form.

One can discuss about the "external" qualities of this movie and acting (excluding excellent supporting roles of Angelos' sister and mother), but this does not diminish its overall result – a contribution to the cognition that there is no much choice when people are trapped by distressed life circumstances. However, we all have a right to life regardless if we did or did not choose by ourselves a certain kind of existence. We all pay at the end, one way or another. And, this is the main point of "Angelos".

Maybe not great, but this is a very good movie, and Greek cinema should not be ashamed of it. Quite the contrary!

The Island (2010–2011)

10!

[10/10 · 29 March 2012]

It's really nice that the viewers in Serbia had a chance to see this brilliant TV series (Pink, March, 2012), though I doubt that many endured to watch it all the way. Unlike many similar TV products (especially Spanish, Turkish, Brazilian and Indian), this series did not offer us a fairy tale on luxury and 'la dolce vita', but the touching story about a serious illness, human isolation, suffering and fear ... with a lot of emotional charge.

A small rocky island, so near yet so far away from the rest of the world, has become the personification of horror and despair of the despised and rejected. But even in this terrible and gloomy setting there is enough room for human hope, enthusiasm, friendship, and love. Although it does not seem so at first glance, the series actually emits optimism because it shows that people in difficult personal situations can accept their ill fate in a dignified way.

The atmosphere was brilliantly depicted as well as the characters, especially the main ones. Needless to say: the actors are fascinating, including children and 'naturščiks' (non-professional actors). Despite some possible small flaws (in the script, directing, or editing?) in two or three episodes (WWII), the series is, in general, excellent!

Finally, I would like to point out something that is important for viewers in Serbia: translation was perfect. The translator (unsigned?) respected what the actors uttered in Greek, skillfully adapting certain colloquial expressions to Serbian ones.

All in all, 'To Nisi' is a job well done!

The Russia House (1990)

A masterpiece of its kind!

[10/10 · 25 December 2011]

Without any hesitation, I admit: this is one of my favorite movies! To be more precise, it's one of the top 5 movies I have ever seen, and a rare one I watched several times in the course of the two decades (in cinema, on video or TV).

I noticed an interesting development of my attitude towards this movie: my first watching hasn't resulted in a special satisfaction (as far as I remember), but every subsequent time the movie engaged me more and more. Obviously, this masterpiece of non-standard political thriller should be seen more then once!

What is so good about it? I would say – everything! First, the theme: a subtle story of personal relationship (ending with love affair) between two people from different political worlds placed in the atmosphere of the last faze of the cold war era and the beginning of the USSR collapse. Second: the brilliant main roles performed by Sean Connery (charming as always) and Michelle Pfeiffer (probably her best appearance ever; she was so persuasive in the role of a 'typical' Slavic character and mentality). Third: some amazing scenes of dilapidated Moscow environment, conveying the atmosphere of a derelict regime which is about to be changed. Fourth: excellent, unobtrusive and well attuned music. Fifth: a contrived direction and film editing ('fusion' of two different scenes), etc.

All in all, The Russia House is a masterpiece of its kind and I wander about the pretty low rating it got at IMDb.com. It's not fair in this case. It's not fair, indeed!

Tender Moment (1968)

A sweet remembrance

[10/10 · 21 July 2010]

I also remember this film which made a big impression on me so many years ago. I still recall several scenes, e.g. the one at the Paris railway station (Renaud getting on the train with his fellow students) or those filmed at Avoriaz ski center under snow cover, with modern hotel apartment blocks lit at night like Christmas tree, a love play between Natalie and Renaud wearing his bear costume, a fireplace, a dispute between Natalie and Hossein and, generally, a very romantic and sexy atmosphere. I would like to see it once again although I know I would be watching it now with different eyes. In my country, the title of this film was appropriately translated as 'The first experience'. In sum, after such a long period I keep this beautiful film in my memory; it surely represented one of the nice moments of my growing up.

The Hunting Party (2007)

On the wave of hatred!

[1/10 · 23 January 2009]

I am really disappointed with the result of what could have been a good, interesting and decent movie. At first glance, 'The Hunting Party' resembles a low budget movie (a cheap hodgepodge as the result of a naive and unconvincing plot), but then you clearly realize it is a poisoning political pamphlet which promotes the need for and justification of revenge: if the alleged war criminal cannot be caught by officials (NATO, CIA, local police etc.) and prosecuted he must somehow be kidnapped and delivered by the three brave and righteous American journalists (sic!): not to the legal forces (the journalists decided to lose a fairly high remuneration of 5 mil. $), but directly to the furious victims because, as the movie suggests, lynch law is the only justice for some people. Blood for blood, that is what promotes this movie in 2007! And, when the victims (Bosnian Moslems) get their most wanted enemy (we see what they are about to do with him), the story can end up with nice, nostalgic and peacefull tunes of a typical Bosnian folk song, sevdalinka. I read all the comments posted here and am not fully agreed with all of you who judged the movie as wasting of time. In fact, we have something worse here - a very good example of crooked and professionally unscrupulous film-making covered up by several high-sounding names such as Richard Gere. I only feel sorry for him: this movie is not only well below his acting standards but hopefully below his professional and personal ethics! It is enigma for me (is it indeed?) why he had taken the role at all?