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Product Description
First volume in Greek director Theo Angelopoulos' trilogy about the Greek people in the 20th century. In 1919 a family of Greek refugees flee Odessa in the wake of the anti-Jewish pogroms, eventually settling in a village near Thessalonika. Eleni (Alexandra Aidini), a young girl the same age as the family's son Alexis (Nikos Poursadinis) has followed with them, and as the years pass they gradually fall in love. When the father Spyros' (Vassilis Kolovos) wife dies however, he becomes obsessed with Eleni and forces her to marry him, an act that sends Eleni and Alexis fleeing into exile. As the community is split apart, Greece begins its long descent into war and occupation.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Greek ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN, SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Filmographies, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: The Weeping Meadow is the first film in Theo Angelopoulos' 'Trilogy', that tells of the fate of the Greek people through the relationship between two refugees - a relationship that spans the 20th century all the way to the early 21st. The story begins in 1919 with Greek refugees from Odessa arriving somewhere near Thessaloniki. Among these settlers are Spyros; his wife, Danae and their 11-year old son Alexis. Also under the families guidence is Eleni, a young orphan who is the same age as Alexis. Years later, and Spyros' family are prospering, but Eleni has fallen pregnant by Alexis. resulting in twin babies, Yannis and Yorgis. Forced to birth the children in secret, she passes them on for adoption. When Spyros' wife dies, he becomes obsessed with Eleni and their marriage is arranged. However, Eleni flees with Alexis and they flee from Spyros. But, the vengeful Spyros is determined to track them down. Angelopoulos' sweeping epic is a magnificent, visually stunning reflection on the turbulent history of Greece in the 20th century. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Berlin International Film Festival, European Film Awards, ...Trilogy: The Weeping Meadow ( Trilogia: To livadi pou dakryzei ) ( La sorgente del fiume (La terre qui pleure) )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 39 people found the following review helpful
By L. Davidson
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
"Trilogy: The Weeping Meadow" is a visual feast of superbly imagined and exquisitely constructed images. It is similar in nature to the films of Tarkovsky and Tarr with their slow tracking shots,beautiful settings and long pensive silences. "Trilogy" follows the tale of a brother and adopted sister's love affair from 1919 to 1945 and the film is set against events from Greek history during that time such as the flight from Odessa,the rise of Fascism and the Second World War. The path of true love never runs smoothly and most of the leading characters are no strangers to tragedy as this epic film unfolds. Memorable images abound in the film; the avenue of sheets by the railway, the wedding, the theatre and the remarkable funeral scenes by the river. This alone makes this film worth a 5 star rating. The only downside of the film is the somewhat less than charismatic acting by the two main characters, Alexi and Eleni, who fail to make the most of their sumptuous surroundings, often leaving the viewer indifferent to their plight.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By D. High
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well now. By the time the film ended, I realised that I had enjoyed it a lot. But in honesty, those immensely slow camera zooms in & out did get rather tedious. And I found myself wanting to shake the two actors to get them to put some life into them.
And, yes, there are plenty of white sheets ~ all drying next to a railway line. Hmmmm ! Am I missing the symbolism there?
I find the synopsis here on Amazon to be rather odd as what they describe is really only a very small part of the movie & not what I would have said it was all about were I writing a synopsis.
I would have liked a lot more of the early part of when she was a child, being with Alexis, getting pregnant etc. That whole part of the story is over & done with within the first 10 minutes.
As it is announced to be the first part of a Trilogy, I must assume that there definitely will be two more instalments, although quite where it will go now is anyone's guess, now that she is completely on her own.
Having said all that, it IS a beautifully made film (that funeral boat procession ~ astounding!) and it completely drew me in. I'm really glad I saw it.
I have many Greek & Greek Cypriot friends so I'll be interested to see their reactions.
And, yes, there are plenty of white sheets ~ all drying next to a railway line. Hmmmm ! Am I missing the symbolism there?
I find the synopsis here on Amazon to be rather odd as what they describe is really only a very small part of the movie & not what I would have said it was all about were I writing a synopsis.
I would have liked a lot more of the early part of when she was a child, being with Alexis, getting pregnant etc. That whole part of the story is over & done with within the first 10 minutes.
As it is announced to be the first part of a Trilogy, I must assume that there definitely will be two more instalments, although quite where it will go now is anyone's guess, now that she is completely on her own.
Having said all that, it IS a beautifully made film (that funeral boat procession ~ astounding!) and it completely drew me in. I'm really glad I saw it.
I have many Greek & Greek Cypriot friends so I'll be interested to see their reactions.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A country, a nation, a people is more than its financial riches and purely economic values or busyness. Greece is so rich in history, music, culture, poetry, art. The Weeping Meadow is a cinematographic piece of art. Its film music by Eleni Karaindrou is musical art. The film itself is visual art. The camera is as slow as the slow reading of poetry. To the background of our current rat race era and world which is dominated by banks, business and economics, The Weeping Meadow is breathtakingly beautiful, poetic and touching. Watching The Weeping Meadow has increased my special sympathy for Greece and the Greeks even further, especially in this period of European history when worst case scenarios of Grexit and other exits are foretold.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
images without feeling
After the other fulsome reviews I was deeply disappointed by this film. It is filled with striking images but that is as far as it goes - a film of images without emotions. Read more
Published 6 months ago by B. Welch
3.0 out of 5 stars
2.5 hours of woefulness and not a meadow in sight
I have watched The Weeping Meadow a few times, all the way through, without boredom, but with plenty of groaning. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Philoctetes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Will parts two and three ever appear?
I loved this film, I can only agree with the views of the other reviewers, great story, wonderful scenery, lovely cinematography, spot on script and good acting. Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2011 by K. Kenny
4.0 out of 5 stars
Weeping Meadow
Angelopoulos' unforgettble images fill the memory with impressions of his recollections of Greece's troubled first half of the 20th century. Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2011 by ian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and deeply moving
Perhaps the most emotional of Angelopoulos' films so far. While it occasionally flirts with melodrama, it's ultimately heartbreaking while losing none of the film-maker's usual... Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2010 by K. Gordon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Slow, slower and slowest
"The Weeping Meadow", the first part in the intended trilogy, is a film of exquisite quiet imagery. The viewer is allowed to succumb into the scenery, for practically everything in... Read more
Published on 16 April 2010 by Margus Lattik
5.0 out of 5 stars
Some remarks on this release
As for the film itself, I cannot add anything that hasn't already been said in those reviews that contain words like "masterpiece" or "epic". Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2010 by Some Bloke
2.0 out of 5 stars
A Film About Laundry And Boats?
There is a hell of a lot of exaggeration about this film. Sure it is an epic in that it is nearly 3 hours long and take in half a century of history. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2009 by Denis Joe
3.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning cinematography but dramatically tedious
It is with some trepidation that I say, given the glowing reviews, I cannot regard this film with much regard. The cinematography is original and sometimes quite stunning. Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2006 by Dr. R. G. Bullock
5.0 out of 5 stars
Angelopoulos reaches new heights
Whilst many of the cinematic methods and visual symbols in 'The Weeping Meadow' will be familiar to those who know Angelopoulos' work this film does signal a new departure. Read more
Published on 9 May 2005
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