GREEK CREATORS
On Monday, 4 April 2005, the creators Graziella Kanellou, (“The Approaching of the Hour”), Yorgos Kolozis, (“Katsandonis’ Leap and Uncle Lambros”, “The Ring”), and Gerasimos Rigas (“Habits”) gave a press conference regarding their films which are being screened within the framework of the 7th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival – Images of the 21st Century.
Graziella Kanellou: The Approaching of the Hour
Graziella Kanellou’s film lens focuses on the Greek anglophone band Raining Pleasure as the impetus for an exploration of the anglophone Greek music scene, how substantial this is, the state of record making, how much of an audience it has, and its viability. The reason for making the film was, as she explained, her getting to know the group: “However, when I met them I realized that the making of such a film had always been on my mind, I was simply not aware of it”, she mentioned characteristically and added: “That is, I never believed it was possible to make a film without the proper equipment, the proper crew and the financing, but actually it is possible to make a film even with a DV camera”. What has staid with her the most from her first film is the experience, the process, the research: “Through research you learn yourself and then you show people what exactly is going on, that is you contribute to the learning of others too”, the director noted and concluded: “ I believe that as many people as possible should undertake such a project, to dare to do it, because in the end it is possible to do it with minimal resources and because – most importantly – through the process of research and learning we become better people. At least that is what I feel happened.”
Yorgos Kolozis: Katsandonis’ Leap and Uncle Lambros Co-production: The Ring
“Katsandonis’ Leap and Uncle Lambros” is a journey through time dealing with the authentic life stories of two people separated by several centuries. The film is based on the old legend of Katsantonis – Ali Pasha’s nightmare, who in order to get away from Veligeka would reach the shores of the Acheloos and leap to a steep point of the river that to this day is called “Katsandoni’s Leap” – and on the charming but also coarse Uncle Lambros who dreams of one day visiting “Katsandoni’s Leap”. The director said that this is a film that deals with courage. Speaking about the film he directed, as well as “The Ring” – the film directed by Andreas Apostolides which he co-produced together with Rea Apostolidou - the creator stressed that these are big and expensive productions which are to be screened in film theaters.
Gerasimos Rigas: Habits
The documentary follows the students of the Athens State School of Dance, the choreographers, the dance teachers, as well as management personnel in their laborious effort to create dancers. The director said that at the basis of his film - which is his first – is the absence of narration and interviews and the simple recording of the action: “The film’s technique is that of cinema verite” he declared and added: “I believe that simple recording has a timeless value”. It is after all an effort to excite the viewer’s imagination by presenting images of the hard work of the young people studying at the School, in other words an effort to give birth to human stories.
According to him, the title “Habits” refers to a phrase used by a teacher at the School – she urged the young people, the hopeful dancers, to not develop habits – but also to the whole process of painful exercises: “These exercises, tough, difficult, repetitive, had the purpose of getting the students to cast off the old habits of their bodies, so that the body would become neutral, the permitting them to express themselves through dance”, he said. Finally, speaking of what he got out of the making of his film, the director stressed that what was interesting was the entire process of creating the film as well as his own effort to get rid of some of his habits, to transform himself into an invisible and non involved observer.
