The Travelling Players | Ο Θίασος (1975)

Synopsis

This expansive Greek drama follows a troupe of theater actors as they perform around their country during World War II.

While the production that they put on is entitled "Golfo the Shepherdess," the thespians end up echoing scenes from classic Greek tales in their own lives, as Elektra (Eva Kotamanidou) plots revenge on her mother (Aliki Georgouli) for the death of her father, and seeks help from her brother, Orestes (Petros Zarkadis), a young anti-fascist rebel.



Cast: Eva Kotamanidou, Aliki Georgouli, Vangelis Kazan, Stratos Pahis, Maria Vassiliou, Petros Zarkadis, Kiriakos Katrivanos, Giannis Fyrios, Nina Papazaphiropoulous, Alekos Boubis, Grigoris Evangelatos, Kosta Stiliaris


Many critics have described The Travelling Players as Angelopoulos' masterpiece; 16 critics and five directors voted it one of their favorite films in the British Film Institute's 2012 Sight & Sound poll.

Like many of Theo Angelopoulos' films, The Travelling Players uses long, static takes combined with complex tracking shots, and beautiful landscape photography to create a surrealistic atmosphere. Shots in the film often drift back and forth in time without warning and after a major scene there will be some down time for the viewer to contemplate what has just transpired.

The Travelling Players was a great commercial success in Greece and also garnered international acclaim. It is regarded by many critics as the supreme achievement of the New Greek Cinema, and by some as one of the most important films of the latter half of the 20th century.

The Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa cited The Travelling Players as one of his favorite films.

Although Angelopoulos had intended to enter The Travelling Players in the 1975 Cannes festival, the conservative Greek government prevented this.

Read about this film

Country: Greece
Language: Greek
Color: Color
Runtime: 230 min.