The Waiter

No pun intended of course! And a movie that is about waiting - another pun? I guess so - but that aside the movie does move as slow as one may imagine (fear). Pacing wise this is something you have to accept it for what it is - the main character seems to have quite the boring life. Until there seems to be a new interesting neighbor.

If you have the patience to stick with the movie and the characters, there is an interesting movie - and some interesting beats to absorb. He may be lethargic or not - the question is if you can stick with him and the movie. So suspend your disbelief and go with the flow.

Some meaning. That could have been told in 5 minutes. Truly boring empty stills most of the time. Some surreal script does not make a drama movie. Or even a movie. Would have goven 1 star but some of the local shots were fine.

Is it a Greek novie style to purposefully nake movies slow, less talked and totally void of feelings. Like is that the movie "industry" in Greece that makes movies to be always like this. Somehow it is even more ironic that when Hollywood or some other "putside" interest makes Greek topic movies, they are fun, understandable and interesting. And the actors actually act like normal human beings. :-/

This movie imay bore you to death if looking for daily dose of media painkillers. The story is plain. Acting is restrictive. Pace is slow.

This is a zen story in images. It will force you to face yourself. It will remind you about your quest. It offers you a way out without loosing your integrity.

The waiter - well folks - that was me - waiting through endless twenty second pauses of nothing happening - waiting for somebody to say SOMETHING - waiting for any back story whatsoever - waiting for some explanation of the dynamics of the relationships - waiting to find out why any of these people tolerated each other - or even attracted each other. Waiting to find out what on earth the quarrelling couple in the restaurant had to do with anything - or why there was a long lingering shot of the male towards the end.

Waiting to find out why this film was ever made.

It had nothing to say and the end was totally predictable. I am sorry for the people who paid good money to view this in a cinema.

This film will definitely not be everyone's cup of tea. I would say it falls under the Greek Weird Wave and people who admire Lanthimo's work will definitely enjoy watching it. The dialogues are short and weird, the sounds of the city and nature very vivid and heightened, and the movements of the protagonists almost do not represent typical behaviours. From a psychological point of view, it creates dilemmas around ethical behaviour and consequences of actions. I hold a lot of respect for Servetalis and Stankoglou, and their great acting is to recognise. The sceneries and depiction of Athens as a city will give a sense of loneliness and romanticism to people who are born and raised there (at least that's what happened to me, I admired my city through the director's lenses). The cinematography and direction is outstanding, definitely a director to follow. I hope we see more of his work soon, and how exciting he has opened that path for the Greek cinema.