Synoikia to Oneiro

Synoikia to Oneiro proves that Alexandrakis was both a gifted actor and an innovative director. His movie is both gritty and moving. Shot on location in what was then Athen's poorest area, he overwhelms the viewer with the abject poverty of post-war Greece. All performances are noteworthy, especially that of Manos Katrakis. Mikis Theodorakis fans will love this movie for its music. Synoikia to Oneiro has few of the technical problems common among Greek movies of the time. I can't help feeling it a shame that Alexnadrakis hadn't directed more films. Let's not forget that movies in Greece at the time were made on shoe-string budgets. This film is under-rated. In my opinion, it's on par with Stella, Ta Kokkina Fanaria and other great Greek films made in the mid-fifties to mid-sixties.

An excellent film deeply influenced be Italian neorealism. One of a few in Greek cinematography. Unfortunately the original version has never been screened as the conservative - right winded administration - censored the movie and destroyed the prototype negatives of the film, due to "communism" and "disrespect" of the state. The real reasons was the way the prospective and finally, the objective presentation of greek society at the time. Deeply poor and in despair yet, still supportive of each other.