The Red Lanterns
| The Red Lanterns | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Vasilis Georgiadis |
| Written by | Alekos Galanos |
| Produced by | Theophanis Damaskinos Victor Michaelides |
| Starring | Tzeni Karezi George Foundas Mary Chronopoulou Dimitris Papamichael Manos Katrakis Alexandra Lydikou Despo Diamantidou Katerina Helmi Phaedon Georgitsis Notis Pergialis Eleni Anousaki |
| Cinematography | Nikos Gardelis |
| Music by | Stavros Xarchakos |
| Distributed by | Times Film Corporation USA |
Release date | 1963 |
Running time | 132 minutes |
| Country | Greece |
| Language | Greek |
The Red Lanterns (Greek: Τα κόκκινα φανάρια, translit. Ta Kokkina fanaria) is a 1963 Greek drama film directed by Vasilis Georgiadis and based on a play by Alekos Galanos. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[1] It was also entered into the 1964 Cannes Film Festival.[2]
Plot
The film begins with a happy couple , Eleni and Petros, at a fun park in Athens celebrating their affair. Much time later Eleni leaves Petros after a beautiful day and goes to her secret work world: The Red Lanterns. There Eleni and many other girls work as prostitutes. They look out of God's path but they are sensitive and and kindhearted. Every one of them has her own story: Eleni, the main protagonist originates from Romania and travelled to Greece wanting a better life but because of her choices she is now the most famous of the prostitutes. Anna is a young woman in love with Captain Nicholas and she has a child with him without his knowledge. Mary (Mairi Chronopoulou) is the eldest of them and the most "masculine" in manners. A young customer named Angelos falls in love with Mary and quickly they begin a passionate love affair. Another girl is Marina, a girl from a village far away from Athens, which is madly in love with Doris, her manager. All of them work to the home of Madam Pari (Despo Diamantidou), a professional in this and former prostitute herself. Katerina is a kndhearted, poor and partially abused and ignored cleaning woman and servant there and also wife of an old man closed in an asylum. Michalis is the manager of Eleni and also in love with her and she hates him. Quickly another woman joins to their home
16-years-old Myrsine after a cop hunting becomes one of them and near by Madam Pari becomes a professional.Michael tries unfortunately ties to seduce her.`Anna after Captain Nicholas left tells to Helen she has a child with him and none knows it. After that Anna tells to her son Alex the truth for his father and waits for his return. During the Christmas Eve Angekus tells to Mary marry him but she laughily refuses. Dorys leaves Marina behind him crying and screaming because she told him if he leaves her she will kill her self. During the Christmas party Helen arrives after a romantic dinner with Peter. Peter follows her and discover her secret he hits them and cry she tries to explain everything to him but he completely sad leaves crying. After these events the Red Lanterns are closed. Anna goes to take a letter of Captain Nicholas but she discover that him and the eternal ship crew died in a storm. Mary and Marina follows Myrsine in the try to find a place of their own for their job after they brokeup with their lovers. Michael tries again to seduce Helen but sadly he watches Helen leave with Peter reunited and more happy than everytime. Katherine the servant there leaves with her husband the Red Lanterns poor but happy forever. The film finishes with their lines. Katherine's husband says Life is beautiful and she answers It is fine(bearable).
Aftermath
Peter and Helen marry and makes their dreams come true. Helen left her past behind her forever and never seen again none of them. Mary, Myrsine and Marina continue this job to the death. Madam Pari dies in poverty. Anna starts a new life out of this work with her son and the memory of Captain Nicholas. Michaylos never forgot Helen and dies with her memory.
Cast
- Tzeni Karezi - Eleni Nicoleskow
- Giorgos Foundas - Michalis
- Dimitris Papamichael - Petros
- Alexandra Ladikou - Anna Georganta
- Manos Katrakis - Captain Nicholas
- Mary Chronopoulou - Mary Pana
- Phaedon Georgichis - Angelos
- Despo Diamantidou - Madam Pari
- Eleni Anousaki - Myrsine
- Katerina Helmy - Marina Georgiadou
- Kostas Kourtis - Dorys
- Yro Kyriakaki - Katerina
- Notis Peryalis - Old Man
See also
- List of submissions to the 36th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Greek submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
- ^ "The 36th Academy Awards (1964) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: The Red Lanterns". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-02-28.