np-5

This is by far the best documentary of apartheid ever. Clarity of the narrative, sharp editing and precise historical presentation, make it an absolute gem for those who want to learn the history of SA, from the Boers War to the fall of iron regime.

Made in 3 chapters, it covers the pre-apartheid SA era, then enters the apartheid history starting from 1948 when the Boers won the general elections and imposed the new order. Part 3 deals with modern events, eventually leading to the fall of the regime.

What impressed me more is the unbiased presentation of the series. In no moment you get the impression that the series distorts or misrepresents evidence.

What is disappointing however is the impossibility to find this documentary anywhere. Searching the internet and youtube will always result in no findings.

This is a quality 1986 production of Granada TV that scores an absolute 10/10.

I've read a couple of disappointing reviews about this movie, and I simply don't agree. This is a fine little cute movie to keep you entertained and interested up to the last scene. A reviewer from Serbia calls the Hollywood people 'dopes' for casting Genevieuve Busold as the gypsy girl. I understand there are a lot of gypsies in Serbia, but he -the reviewer- fails to realize that the point of this film is not to show a real gypsy (this is not a documentary, and even so, if they wanted that would be real easy) but to depict characters and personalities. The film succeeds very well on that, and Busold, as also Jack Lemmon, are excellent in their roles.

A middle-age conservative man falls in love with a free living gypsy girl. When she runs away he becomes obsessed with finding her. What story can be simpler and so interested, in the same time?

I watched this movie back in 1978 when I was living in Canada, and I still remember it very well. Since then, I am looking forward to watch it (somehow/somewhere) again.

If you want to see real gypsies you can opt for a Koustouritsa film, but that's not my piece of cake. As a matter of fact, I prefer Hollywood movies to European crap cinema.

I watched this film recently on TV and recalled the times when we rushed after high school to watch erotic flicks like that one. Mostly cut during the "Junta" times, but nevertheless played in many local theaters, where the show began on 14:00 hours, till 2:00 am after midnight. The plot? usually around some creeps that steal and kill around, in the mid time forcing some pretty girls in bed. Violence is predictable as real gangsters don't do these things, and sex is entertaining. "Oi Erotomaneis" meaning "The Sexmaniacs" in Greek, is no exception. The only reason to watch a film like this is to remember the school years, recall your city as it was then, and feel the nostalgia of the passed years that can never return. Some of the actors here are very known to all Greeks of my age. Lefteris Gyftopoulos is recognized as the "leading gangster and sex maniac" of the time, Anestis Vlachos used to play the "Hit Man", George Christodoulou very young here, later to become a hard-face gangster, and Udo Kier who made 2 films in Greece during the 70s, coming from a rich career in Italy (actually I think he's Austrian) -this is his 2nd movie, the first being "Proklisis" (Provocation). To have an idea what Greek gangsters of the time were, Gyftopoulos (the head of the gang) is heard to say on the phone (talking to one of his men): "Why are you wasting your time? Kill them both and return immediately!"

The actresses? Well, the beautiful and aristocratic (although old enough here) Betty Arvanity (the scene where she's raped in the beach by a gangster is cut), Eleni Anoussaki (a Mediterranean beauty who is singing a song here, now is a retired politician) and the young beauty Rena Kosmidou who was the sex symbol of many similar flicks of the 70s. Perry Poravou and Nicky Tsigalou are also pretty (and juicy) but do not show much here. Conclusion: watch the movie to learn how we spent our free time during high in Athens! (6 out of 10)