Djam

When the Greeks and the Turks separated, quite traumatically 100 years ago the "solution" was hard boundaries, both physical and cultural, where these people with so much in common had to define themselves by emphasizing their differences, --and looking askance at, or down on, their commonalities.

It is pleasant to see a film, whatever its minor flaws, touch on the commonalities. And a lost world of so much in common that for future generations might be regained

Never my soul have been shaken before like this. Especially the "musics-story-cast" trio complete each other as a wild harmony. Every people who carry a heart may absolutely affected by this georgeous movie.A desperate requiem is waiting for you. I should have been watched this before...

"Sadness remind us the important of happiness in our life. Sadness also give us the opportunity to ask for change and provide a better way of living" He transferred the Turkish and Greek similarities very well. Congratulations. I've seen good acting. I really liked this movie.

Haven't seen anything quite like this before. Every plot description I have read focuses on one aspect to the neglect of the others. So here is my take.

First and foremost it is a travel adventure. Through sutile prodding and familiarity, the viewer quickly becomes Djam's travel companion, even more so than Avril, in her mini-Odyssey which takes her from the Greek Island of Lesbos, to Istanbul, over the land border back into Greece (with a wave to Bulgaria). Along the way, the ancient rugged beauty of it all is in full display.

Second, it is a madcap comedy, which draws its comedy not from slapstick, but from the ironic slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. At every bad turn, we are invited to take a path to negativity, but instead are dragged back onto our feet and onto lifetime's next adventure by the sheer joy exuded by Djam. She refuses to be beaten down, or let you be.

Third, this is a sort of Aegean musical. Djam has a for real serious music talent in her voice, play of instruments, and wild woman dancing. Anyone who has spent time with musicians or at folk festivals, will feel right at home. A modern liberated woman Zorba!

Fourth, it is also a cinematic dialectic focusing on where one draws the line, when balancing the thrills and fun in life against responsibility, respect, and lawfulness. Djam can't help but to be a good person, whatever traditional more's she may upset while living.

And finally, a word about Avril. We meet her early on, done dirty by her former boyfriend, and scowling at life as she tries to play through the bad hand fate has dealt her. Pulled into Djam's lifeboat, she isn't sure at first whether that's really a good thing. But she, like us, quickly becomes a fan, forgiving Djam's quirks and foibles. And her scowls give way to smiles.

Anyone who watches this and doesn't smile and chuckle most of the time hasn't suffered enough in life to know how the root for the underdog. I give it a 9, because the subtitles could have been done better.

This is a tale about friendship about loss about displacement about bilingualism about biculturalism it's also about family about grief about lack of direction; It also toys with the borders of Lesbianism; It talks about migration It also talks a lot about the way in which Greeks have been rogered by the IMF bankers over the last 10 years And by the financial markets. It is also about music specifically Rebetiko (See further down the page)

• It is set on the island Of Lesbos and also moves to Istanbul And a bit of rural Turkey

• Mostly though it is the tale of two women moving around and getting to know each other it is all set to the beautiful sounds of Rebetiko A sort of fusion of Greek and Turkish music which is basically the backdrop for all this story there are four or five instances where a song becomes the most important bit of the story and these are Songs about loss And displacement And abandonment ; the director here Tony Gatlif made a masterpiece movie about Gypsy music in 1993 titled Latcho Drom - Gute Reise (1993) .

The two main protagonists are women in their 20s one is French and heading for Gaziantep But has become separated from her travelling companion a boyfriend who may have taken all her money; the other one Djam is a free spirit A musician and dancer has been sent by her uncle to get a connecting rod replacement for his tourist boat Which allowed him to make a living and is now out of commission due to the missing part he has given her money to go to Istanbul and get a replacement. This is when she meets the French girl.

She herself comes from an underprivileged background and wants to help humanity but is not sure how

Everything gets very emotional quite a few times they have a few spats some arguments both of them walk off at different times

In the end it is really a tale of friendship and a paean to Greeks in exile and the music they carry with them

I think I have done a fair job of describing most of the layers contained therein but there are so many it is almost impossible.

It is a beautiful piece about humanity about humanness About fighting against the odds about the unfairness of the global economy and all the suffering it has created over the last 40 years since the advent of neoliberalism; especially as regards the Greek situation.

Highly highly recommended.