Ftina tsigara

Restless and romantic Renos with a pinch of surrealism...

Yes! Renos Haralambidis' work is always constructively destructive and enjoyable...

"Cheap Smokes" is another version of "No Budget Story" or "The Heart of the Beast".

Critics could say that he is repeating the narration of his life story (or the life story of a friend) but in my opinion he is demonstrating again his ability to cope with a low budget to produce a cinematography that is not cheap. I have seen the film 24 hours ago and I am still laughing with the picture of the face of the self blow-jobber's mother as entering into his room!

Congrats! I give an 8 out of 10 for "Cheap Smokes"

It is very odd not to consider this film unique and magnetic, if you have ever even once stop the time and think through the city's pulse. This movie is a poet about nameless dreams and stopping of time in order to cope with an anonymous city which nevertheless seems to have people with certain IDs. The staring character is an observer and yet a star in a bohemian "under"world. Charalambidis manage to express his out of time and out of place dream of life, a constant trip through a yet still city. It is not easy to make a movie without any touchable plot and not having eg Jean Pierre Leo in your team. The actors, the music, the sleeping city fit perfectly to the movie. If you have an intention of not reading a poem, prefering novels and secret meanings, don 't watch this movie. On the other hand if you want to know the people's thoughts and relations without any ID and special role watch the movie and you may find some dreams and thoughts of your inner self who wakes up when the city is asleep.

"Cheap Smokes" brought new standards in Greek film making! Excellent directing by Renos Haralambidis with a deep poetic view of Athens's modern life and outstanding performances by himself (as the main character) as well as by most of his co-stars! It made us take a wonderful journey through love, relationships, friendship and through a different site of Athens "by night"! A film that if it wasn't in Greek language it would certainly make a worldwide breakthrough! Haralambidis combines - in a strange way - Angellopoulos's cinema with American movies.

The film would be even better if there weren't some unfortunate cast choices, like Papacharalambous, who, even though camera loves her, her performance doesn't succeed in touching the depth of the other's. But she was one of the reasons, as a Greek TV star, that the film had a commercial success and at the same time critics loved it.

Haralambidis gave Greek cinema the prestige that was missing.

This movie, for me, perfectly captures the subconscious (or conscious for some) surrealism that derives from actual realism. (if you know what I mean)

The movie perfectly captures how it feels to be in Athens in August. A barren place where every single thought is exaggerated and there is a smell of death and romance in the air. The music selection is perfect.

Being a Greek who is highly biased against Greek cinematography, this film acted as nostalgic beacon of what Greek cinema should be about.

Humour, romance, and surrealism in just the right amount needed for a great flick.

A masterpiece that you must see.