Not much is known about Greece. Is it a country in southeastern Europe flanked by the Aegean and Ionian seas? Is it the undisputed cradle of Western civilization? Or is it just another lie perpetrated by the U.S. government? These will be the questions on nobody’s lips at the
Greek Film Festival, the sixth known Grecian cinematic blowout to be found in San Francisco history in as many years. Expect nine feature films and seven shorts, none of which is
Mamma Mia!, but one of which was nominated for the Golden Bear Award in Berlin in 1958: Nikos Koundouros’
Oi Paranomoi (
The Outlaws) was once censored for depicting ex-guerrilla civil war fighters struggling to escape their personal problems. Other gems include
H Vera (
The Wedding Ring), which follows a band of gold from oceanic abandonment to undersea consumption to naughty husband’s dinner plate, and
Erato, an eight-minute ordeal which features a secret date with the baker’s wife, something everybody can relate to.
The festival starts at 7:30 p.m. with Your Eye Lashes Shine and Oi Paranomoi.
May 18-24, 2009
