The Wretches Are Still Singing (Τα Κουρέλια Τραγουδάνε Ακόμα, 1979)

Director: Nikos Nikolaidis
Starring: Alkis Panagiotidis, Konstantinos Tzoumas, Rita Bensousan
Duration: 122'

One of the most undisputed and everlasting cult works in the Greek cinema, a milestone film in the domestic cinematography’s modern shift, the restless «Wretches» by Nikos Nikolaides are Alkis Panagiotides, Konstantinos Tzoumas, Christos Valavanides and Rita Bensousan: four friends in their forties, brought up in the 50’s, meet again after many years to organize a below the line, aggressive requiem for their generation.

What Nikolaides depicts through his impressive directorial perception is an unanticipated story of a group of friends – a timeline of sex, violence and rock n’ roll which breaks out like a release and a heartbreaking separation for a whole era.

The wonderful soundtrack, the sardonic black humor, scenes-grenades and memorable performances from the unique cast of actors conspire with the top Greek director for an anarchist party of death of decadent heroes and phantoms from the entire pop culture. The film won at the Thessaloniki Film Festival awards for Best Directing, Actor (Christos Valavanides), Sound and Editing and was also awarded for Best Directing and Best Photography by the Athens Film Critics Union.

Loukas Katsikas