Bourek

Never written one of these but had to do it for this movie. A friend recommended Bourek, otherwise I would never know about it. It doesn't have famous actors, has subtitles and is unlikely to show up in your streaming queue unless you like Greek food. I decided to throw in my 2 cents in the hope you find it, if you need something to boost your spirit in these dark times. Now, if you're into flashy fast movies you might not appreciate it. It is on the slow side, like life on a Greek island. I was skeptical the first 30 minutes too but gradually the film got me under its spell. By the end I was literally grinning. And I don't like schmaltzy movies. They are usually too manipulative, you can see it from miles ahead. Bourek is not like that. The beginning with the news gave me a jolt. It was like watching real news today in this cursed 2020. As we follow one character, he leads us to the next, and the next, until they are all assembled on this magical island. The fabric of the stories is intricately woven, coming together in a life affirming allegory of humanity, restoring faith in life's beauty, like light illuminating darkness. And it's funny.

I saw this movie on a grey rainy day and it managed to cheer me up. It's not slapstick, apart from a few scenes, and definitely not gaudy or garish. If that's your thing, you shouldn't bother. Also not for people who hate subtitles. If you enjoy films in the vein of Mediterraneo or Paul Mazursky's Tempest, you should give it a try. It's an entertaining journey with lovely vistas and music. Some of the acting is uneven, some of the set-ups have been done before, but the movie is able to capture the Greek sunshine, sea, and good mood of its characters into something quite unique and deliver it to the viewer. If you're open to receive it, you will love this movie. By the way, the end credit sequence is an obvious homage to Mazursky's Tempest. I recommend streaming on a big screen in HD with good sound.

Bourek is a delightful film, intelligently written and visually stunning. It manages to be both a modern-day fairy-tale and a timeless glimpse at mythological figures washed up on the island of Time itself. It's also a commentary on how best to cultivate our gardens far from the crosswinds of globalization where man is a wolf to man. The cinematography is extraordinary (cerulean blues, glistening light, every color shot with visible wonder) and the acting of the lead Katerina Misichroni, aerial and soulful, as well as the marvelous Al Nazemian (who plays a hilarious risen-from-the-sea, Yeats-reciting Libyan refugee) are simply unforgettable. Mr Nazemian's arrival on Khronos is the highlight of the film, and both its mythic and comedic apex. All in all this is a world one dreams to visit time and time again, both for the sheer pleasure of re-encountering Misichroni's and Nazemian's exquisite faces, and for the very lush sensual (and gastronomic) pleasure the movie conjures with such style and comic bravado.

Bourek is a solid indie production that takes you away from troubles into a different part of the world, just like characters in the film. It has drama, romance, humor and overall great interaction between international cast of characters performed by wonderful actors. Al Nazemian as Tarek shines in every scene he's in as poetic philosopher refugee who washed out on shore after falling off the boat. Also, brothers Branislav and Sergej Trifunovic are absolutely hilarious as Serbian brothers on vacation for a dollar a day. And last but not least Mari Yamamoto and Jason Grechanik portray couple in love and starving artists living their dream to perfection. Bourek is a Mediterranean dish that brings all these different characters together after turmoils they go through creating a family of sorts. Experience Bourek the film with your family whatever it might be.

The film is the equivalent of consuming Adaem's (the Turkish dude) merchandise, sitting back and watching the sunset over the sea. If you can't enjoy that, you have a problem.