BOOK PRESENTATION:
“TRILOGY – THE WEEPING MEADOW” BY THEO ANGELOPOULOS
Theo Angelopoulos’ book, “Trilogy – The weeping meadow” was presented in a packed room at the Electra Palace hotel on Sunday, November 21st. The presentation took place in the framework of the 45th Thessaloniki Film Festival in collaboration with “Electra” publications. Beginning the book’s presentation was the Director of the Festival, Michel Demopoulos, who said: “The first presentation of this book here at the Festival and the city where the film “Trilogy – The weeping meadow” was entirely shot is a most pleasant coincidence. Earlier, Mr. Angelopoulos said that his latest film would be his last in Thessaloniki, the city so connected with his work. We hope it isn’t so”.
Together with Mr. Demopoulos on the panel were publisher Yannis Kalogritsas, director of publications Vicky Demou as well as invited speakers, Nikos Kostantopoulos, Pavlos Matesis and archaeologist Yannis Sakelarakis. Also attending were Akis Tzohatzopoulos, Evangelos Venizelos, Adonis Gyftopoulos, Byron Polydoras, Kostas Gioulekas, Iakovos Kabanellis and Nikitas Tsakiroglou. As for the establishment of the publishing house in 2004, Vicky Demou said: “Our goal is to improve book publications in Greece. We believe that with this particular book we have achieved this goal". The book is part of the series “Greek Literature”.
The President of the Coalition party, Nikos Kostantopoulos stated: "I’m here as a friend of Mr. Angelopoulos, cinema and our generation which has greatly benefited from his work, his friendship and his creativity. Theo Angelopoulos’ work elevates the social aspect of the subjective myth. He is also a pioneer in life since his exploration goes deeper than the occasion or the convention. His work is perceptive. Theo Angelopoulos is a great artist, an intellectual, a citizen with a vision for Greece which deserves so many generations’ sacrifices”.
Concluding, Mr. Angelopoulos said: “A script is raw material for cinema, the tinder. I’m not an author but a man who became a director because I couldn’t become an author”. Answering a question by author Iakovos Kambanellis regarding the next film of the trilogy, Mr. Angelopoulos said: “I’ve written three scripts but with the passing of time I realised that I had neglected a foresight of the future. I am no longer able to make any more films about the past or the “after now”. My second film begins in Uzbekistan, passes through Siberia and ends up in America. I traveled across the borders and experienced the violence. Terrorism in the name of terrorism, humiliation in the name of humiliation”.
