Greek family adventure film based on the acclaimed allegorical fable by Penelope S. Delta. The kingdom used to be a place of paved roads and well-filled coffers, with joy and the good life all around. But the old king went the way of all flesh years ago, and now the kingdom is derelict, a land of wickedness and ruin. Disgusted by the immorality and selfishness that surrounds them, a young prince and his sister begin a dangerous journey to see what must be done, and -if they can- to restore what has been lost. But time is ticking away as the kingdom is threatened by an enemy invasion.
Directed by Kostas Kalpatzides.
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IMDb rating: 7,8/10
Original Title: Παραμύθι χωρίς Όνομα
Cast:
Vasilis Katsamagas
Nektarios Tsourakis
Katerina Kalfa and others.
Movie Trivia:
1. Penelope S. Delta (1874-1941) was born in Alexandria, Egypt to Greek parents. Delta belonged to the Greek aristocracy and could easily have come from a novel by E.M. Forster, Marcel Proust, or Henry James. She wrote several children’s books, memoirs, and historical works, many of which are set in the times of the Byzantine Empire. She took her own life in April 1941, the day the Nazis entered Athens. She is widely considered one of the best Greek writers of all time.
2. The film is based on a popular children’s book by Penelope S. Delta (imagine something like the Greek equivalent for “The Chronicles of Narnia” minus the fantasy elements). The story can be read on many different levels; it is a tale of determination and courage for children and at the same time a parable for adults with many considerable political allegories and undertones of social and individual moral responsibility. The unnamed kingdom in the book is without a doubt a satire of the Greek State and society, but readers (and in our case, viewers) of other nationalities will not find it difficult to connect with their own experiences.
3. The film is a production of the Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini, and Platamon in Thessaly, Greece. It is the second adaptation of the novel. The first time it was adapted to a hugely popular 1988’s 8-part serial for the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT). There also have been two famous stage adaptations (one for adults emphasizing the political themes and one for children).
4. For all Greek speakers out there, there are three audiobooks available for free on YouTube. There is full-length reading of the book (here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_D2ExXWwVY) and a shortened 30-minute version (here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_D2ExXWwVY), but my personal favor reading of the book (although it covers selected chapters) is the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgWKDpOsgns&list=PLPAz3IRawmWySRPVSS3xOFfiDTJDXxyny
5. The book is published by Pushkin Press, translated and illustrated by Mika Provata-Carlone.
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