The Dust of Time (I skoni tou hronou) DVD Special Edition 2 Disc + Booklet

Greek screenwriter, producer and director Theodoros Angelopoulos` thirteenth feature film which he co-wrote with Italian screenwriter Tonino Guerra and the director`s long time collaborator Petros Markaris, is the second part of an unofficial trilogy about modern Greece which was preceded by "The Weeping Meadow" (2004) and became his last film. It was produced by Theo Angelopoulos` frequent collaborator and wife Phoebe Economopoulos and is Greek, Italian, German and Russian co-production. It tells the story about a middle-aged American filmmaker of Jewish ancestry who is in the process of making a film about the story of his mother Eleni and his father Spyros at Cinecitta studios in Rome, Italy. While the producers of the film is worried about the shooting of the film, the director is concerned about finding his missing daughter.

Narrated by Willem Dafoe and Irène Jacob and with a fragmented narrative structure that moves between the past and present and has them , this contemplative and imaginary epic about Greek history, family history, love, immigration, friendship, memories and time draws a pervasive portrayal of a destined relationship between two immigrants separated by time and circumstances. This quietly paced, character-driven and extensive journey which spans over fifty years from the mid-19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, depicts a significant love story, is precisely and distinctly directed by Theodoros Angelopoulos (1935-2012) and finely photographed by cinematographer Andreas Sinanos who also worked as the director of photography on the more stylistically prominent first segment of the trilogy.

Shot in Russia, Rome in Italy, Cologne and Berlin in Germany, Athens in Greece and Kazakhstan, this subtle continuation of the story about Eleni and Spyros contains some memorable scenes, poetic images, artful and naturalistic milieu depictions and Greek composer and long-time collaborator of the filmmaker, Eleni Karaindrou`s distinct score which reinforces this story within a story`s poignant atmosphere. The international cast primarily consisting of American actor Willem Dafoe, Swiss actress Irène Jacob, German actor Bruno Ganz, German actress Christiane Paul and French actor Michel Piccoli delivers affective acting performances in this somewhat elegiac, at times humorous, humane and moving historic drama from one of Greece`s most reverent and important filmmakers, which is seen from varied points of view.

Like all of this great director's challenging work, I have a feeling
this will improve with repeated viewings, as the sometimes disparate
story stands make their connections more clear. On first look I found
this full of thrilling moments and beautiful images (as one comes to
take for granted with Angelopoulos), as well as a terrific, fun and
heartbreaking performance by Bruno Ganz.

However, I also found myself more lost than usual, even being used to
Angelopoulos' complex, time, place and style shifting. At the end
of the day I felt unsure how it all added up, or even that the pieces really
did all fit. One writer said they felt a bit like they were watching
someone else trying to do a film in Angelopoulos' style, and not quite
pulling it off. That's perhaps a bit harsh. but there's some truth in it.

It felt less sure handed than I'm used to. Character motivations and story
choices felt forced or distractingly hard to buy. Even when Angelopoulos'
earlier films confused me the viewer, I always felt strongly that the
film-maker was never confused, he knew just how and why the pieces fit
together, intellectually, thematically and emotionally. This time I
wasn't quite as sure.

Superb film made by Angelopoulos, the genius of Greek cinema. Bruno Ganz reunited with his directer of Eternity and a Day An important examination of recent European history on a heartbreakingly human scale.