All right, I admit I didn't know that this movie had three hours. That's why I was a little indignant afterwards because I was tired and hot (the theatre was about as hot as it must have been during the summer episode of the film). And some moments in the film had made me really sad - sad that I don't have the chance to go to Greece for a holiday this year.
But all these are not sufficient criteria to give a bad review about a movie. The truth is, namely, that the film is very charming, funny and beautifully photographed. Four stories are told, each a little different but based on the same structure. Still, the movie takes its time, never rushing anything or leaving anything out. It takes more time than I expected but thus it transmits that characteristic Greek tranquility and peace that I love so much about the country. True, the whole plot could have been told in 90 minutes and that's what a Central European or American director would have done, and maybe I would have liked it as well then, but only because I wouldn't know what I'd miss.
Vivaldi's `Four Seasons' are commenting the events throughout - an adequate, though not highly inventitive use of score. The Greek actors all seem a little tired but what else can you expect with these temperatures. Dimos Avdeliodis has really done great work to present his picturesque home country and his home island in a lovely, critical but not over-chlichéd way.
