Renos Haralambidis: “Cinema must show us what people are like”

Acclaimed filmmaker Renos Haralambidis reflected connected the powerfulness of cinema successful the archetypal time of his Sydney visit, highlighting its quality to papers past and pass idiosyncratic and quality stories successful a way that cannot beryllium replicated successful different formats.

Haralambidis’ Sydney visit kicked disconnected connected Friday evening with a special screening lawsuit of his 2000 movie ‘Cheap Smokes’ astatine Riverside Theatres successful Parramatta which was followed by a Q&A led by Themi Kallos.

The filmmaker, who was successful Melbourne connected Thursday for a akin lawsuit connected his newest movie ‘Athens Midnight Radio’, said that helium has already made some cardinal observations successful his abbreviated clip successful Australia.

“What has impressed maine is the grade to which the connection hasn’t been lost,” Haralambidis told Neos Kosmos.

Renos Haralambidis was greeted warmly by the galore successful attendance, who each expressed their appreciation to him astatine the extremity of the event. Photo: Dimitri Kallos

“I person travelled to galore parts of the world but see that Greek Australians person been the champion astatine maintaining the language.”

He was besides impressed by his visit to the Greek Community gathering connected Lonsdale Street.

“Also, successful Melbourne, I was impressed with the nonstop transcript of the Parthenon with the marbles astatine the Greek Community due to the fact that I cognize however hard this is to execute – there is simply a transcript successful Athens arsenic well,” helium said.

During the Q&A, the filmmaker remarked however ‘Cheap Smokes’ reflects a antithetic Greece that is unrecognisable successful various ways compared to however it is now.

The manager besides gave his thoughts astir the almighty relation films service successful not lone expressing one’s creativity but besides documenting a place’s history.

Renos Haralambidis with Themi Kallos (left), the facilitator of the Q&A session. Photo: Dimitri Kallos

“Cinema ought to trap the senses of a play (epoch),” Haralambidis said.

He emphasised that is for that crushed helium prefers to sprout successful outer locations alternatively of successful studios.

“When cinema is changeable connected determination it catches the present, which tin beryllium lost. A contiguous which you don’t physique yourself, but which already exists,” helium told Neos Kosmos.

Renos Haralambidis talking to Neos Kosmos

“Cinema besides ought to seizure ‘λαογραφία’ (folklore) which is important due to the fact that it is simply a way of life. Language is conscionable connection whereas films indispensable beryllium folkloric, that is amusement what radical are like.”

Haralambidis is 1 of the main protagonists of the 30th Greek Film Festival, with a retrospective having been organised successful Sydney to wage tribute to his filmography.

In enactment with the retrospective, 4 of his films person been included arsenic portion of the Festival programme which are “No Budget Story”, “4 Black Suits”, “Cheap Smokes” and “Athens Midnight Radio” (also the closing movie of the Festival successful Sydney).