Yparho

I'm Greek and I wasn't expecting from Mastoras playing so good this role especially when he was never an actor before and he didn't have an experience with acting since he is well known as a singer. He was very convincing like I was looking the actual life of Kazantzidis. Everyone played their role with an excellent performance and Mastoras voice was very similar to Kazantzidis voice. He needs all the respect he can gain from people because he is Worthing it. I'm hoping from Mastoras to see him in different projects too because I'm sure from his professionalism he will nail every role they give to him. What a talent and what a nice human being.

Yparho tells the story of legendary Greek singer Stelios Kazantzidis.

The movie doesn't approach him as just an idol. Instead, it manages to provide some valuable insights into his character, showing the tough childhood that included losing his father and led to the dominant role of his mother. Then came his meteoric rise from an unknown member of the working class to an absolute icon. But it's interesting he still couldn't quite enjoy his success. He felt uncomfortable performing in luxurious night clubs for the glamorous upper class, he'd rather relate with the poor, hapless and underprivileged. Furthermore, he couldn't come to terms with the idea that record labels were making a fortune by taking advantage of the artists and he went to great lengths to stand up for his and his colleagues' rights. Add to all that the struggles in his personal life and one gets a good idea of his complex state of mind.

It could be argued that it avoids some of the edgy stuff around his life and doesn't go as deep as it could in order to maintain its appeal to the masses, but at the same time there is nothing "cheap" about it and it keeps a nice balance. As a result, the movie is highly entertaining, draws the viewer in and flows smoothly through its entire running time.

Keeping the same attitude, the movie remains straightforward despite the narrative starting with the main character being a middle aged man and talking about his past in an interview.

Great casting choices. Christos Mastoras, Klelia Renesi and Asimenia Voulioti are portraying the key characters and they all are delivering powerful performances.

Yparho also does a great job at taking you back to the time period where the narrated events take place and makes it feel authentic.

The music is excellent by itself, but is also used wisely in terms of fitting the narrative and achieving the desired emotional effect.

On a final note, it has to be said that Kazantzidis is an essential part of Greece's history and popular culture. Many people grew up with these songs, so that alone makes for a very moving watching experience and it's easy for the audience to ignore any imperfections or sidestep any complaints, especially if you watch it on the big screen and share the experience with many others.

Yparho, a film inspired by the life and music of the legendary Stelios Kazantzidis, is nothing short of a masterpiece. It seamlessly blends raw emotion, stunning performances, and timeless music, creating an experience that leaves audiences mesmerized. This biographical tribute captures the spirit of Kazantzidis, a man whose voice became the soul of Greek music.

The storytelling is impeccable, taking us through his struggles, triumphs, and the heartache that shaped his art. The film doesn't shy away from depicting the harsh realities of his life, making it both a poignant and inspiring watch. The cinematography is breathtaking, transporting viewers to the Greece of Kazantzidis' era with its authentic settings and evocative visuals.

The soundtrack, featuring his iconic songs, is the heart of the movie. Every note resonates with emotion, reminding us why Kazantzidis remains a beloved figure in Greek culture. The lead actor delivers a flawless portrayal, embodying Kazantzidis' passion, pain, and resilience with remarkable depth.

Yparho is more than a movie; it's a celebration of a legend. Perfectly executed, it is a must-watch for music lovers and anyone who appreciates a story of human perseverance. This film stays with you, much like Kazantzidis unforgettable voice.

Reviewed by Filmmining 101:

Dealing with Greece's most famous folk singer, "Stelios", is a highly fictionalized tale of its central subject's life story, one filled with dubious creative decisions, shades of the melodramatic flair and occasionally one dimensional characterizations. Nevertheless, director Yorgos Tsemberopoulos ("Backdoor" (2000)) has managed to assemble together a concrete Greek production, worthy of international release due to its (finally) strong production values, craftmanship and exquisite cinematogropahy (courtesy of Giannis Drakoularakos) that gives the shots the necessary Mediterranean authenticity. Bypassing the historical and personal inaccuracies of Katazantzidis's life, one will find plenty to admire in this tale of artistic passion, failed romances and creative thinking in a time period where music was defining people's livelihoods.

Greece, like so many countries which were swept away by the devastation of World War II and the Nazi occupation, saw a rise in folk-pop songs from low socioeconomic status individuals. Kazantzindis himself already a refugee from the Greek-Turkish war and a victim of right wing brutality in the mid 40s infused his heart and soul into his art, appealing to the masses by not performing in sold out venues but in taverns (yes, really). The film makes use of this traditional Greek culture endeavor, emphasizing the importance of delivering in a live audience Laika (aka songs of the people) pieces. None was best than Kazantzidis himself due to his thunderous vocals and his unique skill of combining feelings of sorrow and joy.

Despite Stelios' story being a remarkable Odyssey yet the script treats several key events unable to explore their impact to the his psyche. A clunky prologue bypasses significant life changing developments hastily; Tsemberopoulos does not clearly articulate the timeline between them and using the same protagonist for the age period of 18 to 50+ muddles the things further. As such, we are left desiring details required to understand what make this cinematic Stelios tick. Played stoically by an excellent Xristos Mastoras, we only experience superficial descriptions of potential motivations but these are not enough to connect with Greece's number one singer of the people, his life approach and philosophy remaining unclear such as continue living among ordinary people.

At moments, it feels like Tsemberopoulos and screenwriter Katerina Bei are conceiving a fan-fiction tribute for Kazantzidis' listeners and not for others who could discover the beauty of his singing through an approachable and meticulously put production of an unknown to the rest of the world, Greek Icon. The movie tries to cram too many real and most unnecessarily fictional aspects in an already fulfilling story (e.g., his battle against record companies, his third marriage is never mentioned but his wife Vasso pops out of nowhere) in desperate need of a bit more of panache and trimming. This notion extends in the supporting roles too, particularly the women who stood by Kazantzidis' side. While the actresses are all great and believable, their purposes is to worship Stelios and whatever ambiguous goal he has in life as opposed to being fully fledged characters. The device of using a journalist to talk a now recluse Stelios and get his flashback narration is an interesting one but his actions never challenge himself - he is there simply to record these events, extend graciously the running length and for the director to get some gorgeous opening shots.

Be that as it may, Mastoras excels by playing the guitar and performing wholeheartedly the singer's vast catalogue (reminding Val Kilmer's mesmerizing performance as Jim Morrison in "The Doors" (1991)) which should rightfully (and hopefully) attract some accolade attention. The sound design is well done too; those who grew up with Stelios' music might feel an overwhelming emotion of nostalgia due to the accurate and authentic representation of an era that barely lingers in modern memory across the companionship of 25+ of his hits. Employing real sets, spot on costume design this biography is a time capsule of a period and Tsemberopoulos has an obvious and vivid passion for this national folk hero and it shows: from steadycam to pull out shots, he accentuates the beautiful environment which was Greece in the 60s, putting Stelios in front and center. It is a shame then this ambitious biopic does not conduct a deep psychological dive preferring to lean towards a safe compilation in the life and morality of one of the most famous Greek performers.

'Stelios' is a biographical film about Stelios Kazantzidis, one of the most popular Greek singers of the second half of the 20th century. The original title of the film is 'Yparho', which in Greek means 'I exist', one of Kazantzidis' most famous songs, a kind of milestone at a crossroads in the musician's life and career. The film's director is Yorgos Tsemberopoulos a veteran Greek filmmaker who does not seem to be bothered by time, this being only his seventh feature film in 50 years. 'Stelios' is a solid biographical film, which tells in detail and with accents on the episodes that seemed important to the screenwriter Katerina Bei the complex story of the artist and man who was Kazantzidis, trying to explain the pauses and his almost total withdrawal from music, after having won the love and appreciation of huge audiences.

The singer came from a family of refugees from Asia Minor after the population exchanges that followed the conflicts between Greece and Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century. Orphaned of his father (a communist militant killed in the civil war), he is forced to start working in a factory where he has the chance for the boss to notice his musical talent, put a guitar in his hand and encourage him on the path of a career as a musician. He starts as an instrumentalist and soloist in taverns and in a short time his fame grows thanks to the talent and emotion he puts into music and the fact that he expresses from the heart the pains and passions of simple people. His contacts with managers and record labels will often put him in conflict with their commercial interests, while his personal life is dominated by several women - first his mother, followed by Katy Gray - a more mature woman and his first love -, and then the singer Marinella - his first wife and musical partner for a good part of his career. A violent incident in a night tavern will cause him to give up singing in the places where authentic music often comes from, and conflicts with the owners of the record labels and the breakup of his relationship with Marinella will lead to his retirement at the peak of his career. The journalist who takes the (authentic) interview that constitutes the framework of the script finds him living alone, as a simple fisherman, at an age when he could have been in full glory (but still with his Mercedes parked next to the fisherman's hut). The film tries and largely succeeds in elucidating the mystery of his retirement. He would only return for recordings and special events on stage, and that only after another decade.

Yorgos Tsemberopoulos made some risky casting choices. For the role of Stelos, he chose Christos Mastoras, a singer who manages to excellently portray the character's feelings, his artistic dilemmas, but also his personal conflicts. Mastoras sings with pathos, just as Kazantzidis did, but I recommend staying until the end credits and listening to the song that gives the Greek title of the film, in the original interpretation, for an impression of the model's formidable voice. Klelia Renesi and Asimenia Voulioti excellently interpret the roles of the two women who loved him and whom Stelios loved. All the actors in supporting roles are excellently chosen, sometimes they are non-professional, and are even more authentic so that viewers have the feeling that they are in Stelios' boat, in the recording studio or in the taverns where the hero sang. Such a film also lives through or especially through music. I read that in Greece, in many cinema theaters, the audiences join those on the screen by singing along to the well-known songs. I'm not surprised. I recommend watching 'Stelios', even if you are not a connoisseur or lover of Greek music. I warn you that you risk becoming fans of the genre by the end of the film.