I Roza tis Smyrnis

This movie is based on the novel Ismael and Rosa by Giannis Giannellis. It tells the story of Dimitris, an antique dealer in Athens, who discovers an old wedding dress stained with blood, a letter, and a photograph from Smyrna (modern-day Izmir). His curiosity leads him to uncover a hidden family secret connected to Rosa, an elderly Greek woman living in Istanbul.

The film is visually stunning, with beautiful cinematography that captures both the historical and contemporary settings of Greece and Turkey. The performances, especially from Lydia Fotopoulou as Rosa, bring depth to the characters, and the soundtrack enhances the film's nostalgic and melancholic tone.

While Rosa of Smyrna succeeds in creating an engaging mystery and emotional depth, some critics felt that the story could have been more tightly woven, as it sometimes leans into melodrama. However, for those who enjoy historical dramas with themes of lost love, identity, and cultural connections, it's a worthwhile watch. The movie is historically balanced, and so atmospheric. Definitely worth watching it. It begins way different and ends with major plot twists with much understanding from both sides. It was a great, bittersweet movie that everyone needs to watch and definitely know the History behind it. It's NOT for the faint of hearts.

The Rosa of Smyrni was one of the most well filmed movies out there. It shows clearly the tragedy of the turkey invasion is Smyrni and how the life of so many people changed forever. Also it shows one century later Greeks and Turks can find common things and stop this hostility between them. The plot was interesting. Besides some parts was boring but the end was fascinating. Moreover the cast was significant and of course the grandmother Rosa was magical.

In general a moderate film. It has historical and humanitarian interest, and it is a beautiful story. Unfortunately, the dialog was very very very bad. It was meretricious, unnatural and did not add almost anything to the movie. I struggled in the first half of the movie, but thank God it got better, at least in terms of dialog. It was full of proverbs and sayings. I guess it is worth seeing if you are a middle aged lady that likes the usual drama.

PS: I was enchanted by the Turkish nurse at the end of the movie

I liked it.

It has very strong script/story, the direction is nice, photography is good & nice music too.

Yes, it lacks (a bit) in the dialogues, but not so much as some wrote. Generally, is very good film. It has a lot emotion, drama, its keeping you to the last minute - especially with the nice idea to having the old woman (Roza) keeping a secret in her entire life (and you want to unlock her secret, you want to find it out).

I recommending it.

People may hear a lot historical stories and have a point of view from a certain angle. But hearing the same stories from the other side may change that point of view. As the main idea of the movie, when you start to understand the 'others', you will start looking from a wider angle and having a big mind. Fanaticism does not help anything but only losing friends and lovers. A Greek person can be a good person as a Turkish person can. It is that simple. Life does not worth fighting.

Eventually, what this movie leaves behind is an unfinished love story which was not allowed by the parents of a young couple who believes a Greek can not marry to a Turkish.