Les petites aphrodites

Like the other reviewers above, I too was captivated by this movie upon it's initial (and seemingly short-lived) theatrical release. It must have been about 1968 or 1969 when I saw it at one of those 'arty' type cinemas in Sydney, and I am almost certain that that copy was overdubbed in English, which made it a lot more watchable, even if it did upset the lip-synch! I was enthralled from the very first frames, and all I can do is agree with an earlier reviewer who noted that he/she did not want it to end, and another reviewer who stated that it was like a beautiful dream that one wishes that one could have every night.

Sure, there are a few glitches in the continuity, and many more in the reasoning behind the screenplay (?) but the whole beauty of this little gem of a film is in the IMAGERY, supported mostly by the minimal dialogue, and gorgeous musical score. You can actually believe that you are looking through a time-window into an ancient coming together of opposing faiths and forces.

I have a subtitled copy on VHS, which was cross-recorded many years ago from my original copy on Beta (before the Beta died), but it was originally recorded from our SBS channel (still in its formative years in the early 1980's) and the quality leaves something to be desired. (Ghosting of the images, which leaves some scenes difficult to watch, and several picture rolls, due to the advancing age of the tape.) Even so though, it is still a powerful piece of work, and I would dearly love to have a crisp, clear copy on DVD.

As none seems forthcoming, I shall have to rely on the annual playing of my copy on VHS, and simply remember how achingly beautiful it was on the big screen, all those years ago..........

There will be two reactions from the average movie viewer. You will either think this is garbage or you will think this is the highest expression of movie-making. I fall in the middle.

On the one hand, the concept and creation of this film is flawless. It is a Greek film by Nicos Koundourou, one of the greatest directors to come from Greece. It is the story of the discovery and pursuit of love in a nomadic community in 200 B. C. There is minimal dialogue in the movie. With the minimal dialogue you will find yourself emotionally invested on the individual lives of the main characters. Dialogue, indeed, is not needed. The story is told through the movement of the actors. This is a very visual film. All one needs to do is look at the action and body language of the actors and you will know what is going on. In some ways this movie can be described as a limited silent movie. Moreover, Koundourou employed many non-actors in Young Aphrodite; many were actual shepards in real life. However, this did nothing to take away from the finished product. This alone gives an air of authenticity to the movie. Many parts of this movie are striking and compelling. A very unique movie experience.

On the other hand, the movie suffers in very accurately and laboriously depicting what everyday life is like for shepards suffering through a drought. As a result, a good part of the movie will show the tedium and boredom of a shepard's life intersperse between incidents of real action. Most will probably look at this tedium and dismiss the movie itself as boring. This is a mistake. This film is one of the best examples of an art-house film. Shot entirely on location, this can be viewed time after time and still be enjoyed.

I wail and gnash teeth in worry that my two VHS copies of this outstanding film will further degrade before the Lords of Film Preservation and Distribution pull this one from the oh so undeserved bin of neglect. Yes, another coming of age story. Yes, another love triangle. And yes, another oh so splendid example of what film can do! Lucent imagery, commanding black and white, classic movement, a story both exotic, ancient, and utterly timeless - integrally conveyed by images, images, images! A film to make you wish to be on some isolated Greek island, sitting mesmerized by the profound sea, and pondering the endless repetition of man's desire. Or rather, grateful to live in an age of film. A prayer to Mercury to speed this wonderful film to Criterion!

Not many people may have seen this film. It's probably almost impossible to get hold of these days. A great pity. I saw it twice in the seventies. Ever since the first viewing it has been in my personal top five. It's a story told in images, full of wonderful symbolism, beautifully photographed in black and white. It plays in a long ago Greece, in a village by the sea. The men are out fishing, the women are waiting for their return, and from the mountains a group of shepherds come down with their flocks. Thus the land meets the see, earth and water, male and female, birds and stones, a stork and a fish, birds captured in fishing nets etc. etc. This archetypical encounter is played out by the young (who remembers the intriguing poster of the prepubescent girl with the fishing net draped over her shoulder?) and the mature. I remember, when the film ended, I did not want it to end. I was feeling melancholic and a little sad that you could not be there as well. This film is like a dream you would wish you could dream every night.

I bought "Young Aphrodites" on videotape from Movies Unlimited several years ago. Atmy first viewing I was enchanted. Eventually I watched it so many times over the following years that I wore it out. The two youngsters (the boy sheepherder and the village girl who interests him) are the main story. Also, there is a story of an adult couple. The passionate pursuit of the bird tamer (young woman) by the shepherd (young man) and the sexual consummation of that pursuit colors the story of the boy and girl. A dead pelican? seems to be the unusual center of the boy's attempts to interest the girl. Not entirely sure why he is pursuing the girl (but having an idea from having stumbled on the sexual encounter of the older couple, he invests her with an innocence only to find that he has a rival in the form of another boy. This boy sees the girl as a sexual conquest. The rivalry, the innocent pursuit and its shattering resolution end the main story and the sheepherders return home.