Rembetiko

In Greece, Rembetiko had always been known as the music of the outcasts. Even the dance that is normally associated with it, (Zeimbetiko), occasionally looks like some kind of ritualistic act of defiance, to those ancient Greek deities, who for their own amusement, are constantly interfering with all our lives, creating Tragedy, Comedy, Pathos and Irony. It had traditionally been associated with Greek refugees from the west coast of Anatolia, who for various reasons, had become dispossessed and were now confined to living their lives under the lower step of the Greek urban social order, engaged in a life style that was considered borderline at best, in more ways then one. The time depicted in this film, covers a period in Athens from about 1922 -1958. This was a time of tremendous transition and instability for the entire Greek nation. The film begins with a montage of what the Greeks have called the Asia Minor Disaster, which was basically a military campaign (waged with rival nation Turkey) gone wrong, and which resulted in a population exchange with their nemesis nation, that increased the population in Greece by approximately 25% almost overnight, in 1923. Most of them ending up in Athens. In was in these overcrowded and economically and spiritually destitute conditions during the 1930's, that the Rembetiko genre of music reached its height in popularity. After that, came a World War and Nazi occupation in 1940, and then a tragic Civil War in 1948.

On to even more economic and political instability thru-out the 1950's. In "Rembetiko the movie" veteran Director Costas Ferris, much akin to a masterpainter, uses these historical events, by either showing or suggesting them, to recreate a background of a social order, that always seems to be on the edge of chaos and collapse. Scenery, costumes, period piece trivia etc. are all well executed and are quite successful in recreating a realistic and believable visual context for the period. The viewer will have little difficulty in the area movie pundits love to call "the suspension of disbelief". Winner of the prestigious Silver Bear award in 1984, and without question, one of the most absorbing and provocative films ever to come out of the Hellenic Republic, this is a story that works on many levels, from the superficially romantic and absurd to the exceedingly tragic and disturbingly profound. This is especially true if one is familiar with the history and urban culture of contemporary Greece, during the early and middle years of this century. This 107 minute Hellenic "Once Upon a Time" for adults, is both controversial and unforgettable. The basic storyline may seem somewhat simplistic, but that simplicity is deceptive. There is a great deal going on here that is not always plainly evident. Some of the events portrayed, are based upon the actual life experience of one Marika Ninou, who in reality, had in fact been a well known Rebetisis from that period. A Rebetisis today, is simply a term used for a female singer of Greek Rebetiko music. However during the period in question, being called a Rebetisis had a connotation, that was somewhat more pejorative in nature. The film follows the life experiences of the primary character, also named Marika, from the day of her unwanted birth and exceedingly difficult childhood, to her rise and eventual decline, as a popular Rebetisis, while still only in her mid thirties. She is essentially a very complex character, who is driven by a blind ambition to succeed in her singing career, while simultaneously being sustained through every ordeal in her life, by nothing more, then an enormous strength of character along with an equally strong determination and will to survive. However, in her quest to the top, she becomes increasingly self-centered, detached and alienated, as both personal relationships and the overwhelming external events surrounding and affecting her life, spin quickly out of control. Nevertheless finding a deep rooted empathy for her came easy and naturally. In the beginning of the film, Marika is a young women in search of artistic recognition for her music. By the end of the film, ( in a final scene, that can only best be described as quintessentially Greek ), she is, in a very curious and symbolic way, redeemed by it ! Sortiria Leonardou gives a Tour de Force performance as Marika, while the glorious and haunting original Rembetiko compositions of Stavros Xarhakos, permeate the entire production. This is a very powerful film !!

This movie is one of those almost forgotten gems produced by the Greek cinema. A great, well made, movie brought about by the truly conscientious efforts of a small team of people but confined into near obscurity by whoever now owns the distribution rights. The story line traces the evolution of the Rembetiko music, genre that could be described as the Greek blues, through some important milestones in the history of Greece in the early 1900's and at the same time through the tragic life of rembetiko singer Marika Ninou. Difficult to find it as DVD and the rare offerings on Amazon or eBay are well over-priced considering the atrocious picture quality. A pitiful shame indeed for such a great movie.

I was very pleased to find 'Rembetiko' on DVD after so many years! Back then, it only was on for a short time at my local cinema/art-house (Rotterdam, Holland)/ right after, I was *very* impressed and checked for another view, but it was the very last one performance, alas. Since then, this movie became some sort of a myth in my memory.

After seeing the film after almost 25 years it feels very different... (now I'm older I know more in what way Greece also suffered during WWII/ and their drama is still not very well known in Europe, they kept the horror more quiet, IMO). So this knowledge was an extra for me in 2007.

Therefore I disagree with the former poster "dionysianartist", the emphasis on the Nazi-period gives the movie a wonderful twist. Perhaps this way, it also returns the feeling to the true blues of 1920's Rembetica.

My DVD came with these subtitles; *Greek *English *French *Spanish *Italian *German *Turkish (No further extra's).

Check it out; great film, with much of the Greek sphere and feelings involved.

John.

The history underpinning this Film is the one that makes this film really unique. It is very hard for this film to be translated and make it understandable by the majority of people that can't speak Greek and may not feel the story. The story begins around 1920 in the coastal area of (now days)Turkey. Between the war most of the Greeks owned this area, however most of them were killed (not as soldiers but as unarmed people)and all the others were sent to Greece were they had to start their life from zero. The passion and the lyrics of the music as well is what makes this film one of the best in Greece. Rempetiko is this kind of music that was carried in main Greece by them.

Rembetiko music was the music of the people living their lives on the slums of that time. People using drugs, women who sold their bodies to survive, small time crooks, angels and demons of the ghettos of that era.

The soundtrack of this film, was written exclusively for this project by Xarhakos. One the greatest Greek composers ever. And it is a masterpiece. It has catchy songs, it has songs with political messages, it has hymns to sadness, it is a versatile masterpiece. And in many scenes, Ferris, the director of the movie, managed to lock the musical track playing in the background, with the scenes in front with absolute perfection.

The movie manages to show us how these people lived back then. And their struggles and emotions. But I honestly think i love this film mainly because I am Greek and A, I know the history of my people, and B, I love Rembetiko music. I am not sure it will be a nice cinematic experience for foreigners who ignore historic facts about modern Greece and who have no idea about what Rembetiko music is.

I know for a fact that a lot of Turkish, Arab and Israeli people, who love rembetiko and similar music, loved this film. But even them, they loved it mainly because of the superb music. I state again that the music created for this film, is a collection of masterpieces. The uplifting tracks make you wanna stand up and dance, and the sad ones make you melancholic.

But I cannot say that the film is a great film overall. Chances are that if you dislike Greek rembetiko music, you will also find the film to be irrelevant. Greece being a tiny country, it's modern history is not known to non Greek people. So all films that show bits of that history, are doomed to look less interesting, or confusing to non Greek audiences.

A scene or even just a dialogue might make my heart turn to pieces because I know about the pain of the Greek people of that era.

But an Englishman will probably stand confused. So i would say that Rembetiko as film would be a nice experience for Greeks and for foreigners who love Rembetiko music. But the rest of you will probably find it without any meaning or purpose.