Films familiarize Koreans with Greece

Home > National > Diplomacy

print dictionary print

Films familiarize Koreans with Greece

테스트

Vassilis Xilros, consul and deputy head of mission of the embassy of Greece in Seoul. By Kim Soe-jung

Vassilis Xilros, consul and deputy head of mission of the embassy of Greece in Seoul, took 10 days off from his job last year to visit Busan and enjoy the film festival there.
As self-claimed “film buffs,” Xilros and Stephanos Voudourls, commercial counselor of the embassy, wanted to offer Korean audiences direct contact with Greek culture.
Xilros commented on the screening of the 10 best Greek films organized by the embassy.
“I think there is no better way to inform people about a country’s culture than having them see the films of the country,” said Xilros. “The film festival aims at familiarizing Koreans with Greek cinema and the history of Greece.
“The films depict the overall history of the country and the major historical events after World War II.”
The screening kicked off last Thursday at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center in Sunhwa-dong, Jung-gu, central Seoul.
The 10 best films, handpicked by the two film lovers, range from classics to major box office hits.
The screening includes “Zorba the Greek,” “Stella” and “A Girl in Black,” all by world-renowned director Michalis Cacoyannis.
“Zorba the Greek,” a film based on a novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, won three Oscars at the 1965 Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress.
The screening also introduces several films that have never been shown here before, such as “Rembetiko” by Costas Ferris, “Peppermint” by Costas Kapakas, and “Brides” by Pantelis Voulgaris.
“Rembetiko is a story of a singer of Greek folk music. I have a particular love about this kind of music. And if you see this movie, you would be able to appreciate both Greek cinema and music,” said Xilros. “Rembetiko” was voted best Greek film on the Internet, according to the embassy.
“Eternity and a Day,” by Theo Angelopoulos, which brought the director the Palme d’Or at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival, is also on the list.
Xilros and Voudourls have been attending several screenings to introduce the films to audiences and hold question and answer sessions afterward.
“Of course, I am not a director. But I hope I can explain Greek customs, cultures and some historical events referred to in the films to Koreans,”said Xilros.
The 10-day screening will continue to May 30. For more information, contact the Web site of the Korea Foundation Cultural Center at www.kfcenter.or.kr or call (02) 3789-5600. “Stella,” “A Girl in Black”, “A Touch of Spice” and “Zorba the Greek” will be screened with Korean subtitles; the rest will have English subtitles.


By Kim Soe-jung Staff Writer [soejung@joongang.co.kr]
Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
help-image Social comment?
s
lock icon

To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.

Standards Board Policy (0/250자)