Alalum

Set against the backdrop of early-1980s Greece and peppered with unblushing advertisements, Harry Klynn's unapologetic and deeply satirical extravaganza is a bittersweet commentary on the aspirations of an entire nation, its desires and fears as it faces a brave new world. Blending Greek tradition with borrowed modernity and the dated with the novel, a deliciously enthusiastic triptych unfolds across three acts. A sensitive tough prefaces the movie, introducing the maladroit embodiment of Giannis Maris' eternal hero: the intrepid Detective Bekas. Next, a genuine tearjerker follows Artemis, an empathetic intellectual with a thick wallet, as he attempts to shed light on the unbearable existential burdens of the underprivileged. His sad but shallow soliloquies pave the way for the ludicrously mischievous final act: the pastoral, politically charged love story of Golfo and Tasos. And the question remains: Has anything changed after all this time?