I saw "Angelos" at a film festival in the 1980s, and watched it again on the web after almost three decades.
This movie has two essential qualities: courage and honesty. It was not easy to introduce viewers to this topic in 1982, and particularly not in such an open and "picturesque" way. Life on the margins has always existed, but the eyes of the (Greek) public were mainly closed. Most people did not want to see and acknowledge it. Therefore, the appearance of this movie caused such a big shock and reluctance.
On the other hand, the movie honestly shows that a bitter subject it engages with permeates various social milieus and communities, in this case the environment of poverty and despair. The scenes of "weird" transvestites' night life in Athens of the 1970-80s reflect the real situation on spot at the time, but such things have probably changed since then (have they really?), taking at least a different form.
One can discuss about the "external" qualities of this movie and acting (excluding excellent supporting roles of Angelos' sister and mother), but this does not diminish its overall result – a contribution to the cognition that there is no much choice when people are trapped by distressed life circumstances. However, we all have a right to life regardless if we did or did not choose by ourselves a certain kind of existence. We all pay at the end, one way or another. And, this is the main point of "Angelos".
Maybe not great, but this is a very good movie, and Greek cinema should not be ashamed of it. Quite the contrary!
