Djam

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 (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.

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...

A sentimental movie about poorness antifashism , friendship and immigration. A movie that makes u smile as well as make you think. Beautiful Turkish songs made me cry . As watching I realized ones more how similar Greeks and Turks .

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

Its lovely freshness represents the main virtue defining it. Its sources - no doubts, the inspired option to craft his character by Daphne Patakia, the atmosphere of a Greece very far by touristic image" promotion, the small stories of characters, the nostalgia and adventures and beauty of bodies and joys reflection and the end, with its social message and fair portrait of hope .

It is real a beautiful film and you feel this, not having words to define that.

Because it is a film about life, precise description, bitter - sweet flavors and lovely image of what matters in essence.

So, at first sight, a summer, easy film, with few profound unrealistic scenes . But this makes it real - real- real good inspiring its adorable fresh air.