The big apple gets a taste of Greece as the second annual New York City Greek Film Festival begins its second week, presented by the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce. The Festival runs October 3-16, hosted by Village East Cinemas (22 E. 12th St Manhattan) from October 3rd through 9th, and by Cinemart Cinema (106-03 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills, Queens) this week October 10th through 16th.
Among the award-winning films to be shown is “Eduart,” a Dostoevskian story of a killer’s struggle for personal redemption. “The Homecoming” tells a story of marital infidelity and personal betrayal. ”Eyes of Night” follows three lonely people as they search for love and connection. The festival will also pay tribute to Jules Dassin by showing his 1960 landmark film “Never On Sunday” in its first theatrical showing in many years. Other special events include a tribute to Greek American filmmaker Richard Ledes and screening of “Song of Life,” a documentary on saving the jews of Zakynthos during the German Occupation.
Performances begin daily at 1 p.m. and continue into the night. Films not in English are shown with English subtitles.
Here is the schedule for this weekend and highlights of some of the current films
CINEMART CINEMA
106-03 METROPOLITAN AVE. Forest Hills, Queens
Fri. Oct. 10
1 p.m. THE HOMECOMING
3:15 p.m. EYES OF NIGHT
5:30 p.m. EDUART
8 p.m. THE HOMECOMING
10 p.m. EYES OF NIGHT
Sat. Oct. 11
1 p.m. LITLE GREEK GODFATHER
3:15 p.m. SIRENS IN THE AEGEAN
5:30 p.m. LITTLE GREEK GODFATHER
8 p.m. EDUART
10 p.m. SIRENS IN THE AEGEAN
Sun. Oct. 12
1 p.m. SIRENS IN THE AEGEAN
3:15 p.m. LITTLE GREEK GODFATHER
5:30 p.m. EYES OF NIGHT
8 p.m. SIRENS IN THE AEGEAN
EDUART
Direction and screenplay by Angeliki Antoniou
A young Albanian, brought up in an oppressive family environment, comes to Athens to pursue a better life. When prospects for illegal immigrants prove dim, he gets involved in the hustling scene and instinctively commits a murder. Returning to Albania, he is imprisoned under harsh conditions for an unrelated crime. There, under the guidance of a German doctor, he begins his struggle 
toward personal redemption. While the theme of transcendence gives the drama a Dostoevski-like gloss, the film addresses complicated issues of character and social attitudes. This much-praised film won nine awards at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and was the Greek entry for “Best Foreign Film” Academy Award consideration last year.
EYES OF NIGHT (Matia Apo Nyhta)
Direction and screenplay by Pericles Hoursoglou
Three fallible people navigate one of life’s most difficult passages in this gripping drama about searching for love and connection. Hronis, a middle-aged trucker, has no idea of how to relate to either of the two women in his life. A decent but selfish man who has narrowed life down to his own needs and pleasures, he behaves badly and hurts the woman he probably really loves. The luminous Vangelio Andreadaki was named Best Actress at the 44th Thessaloniki International Film Festival for her heartbreaking performance in this emotionally shattering film.
THE HOMECOMING (I Epistrofi)
Direction and screenplay by Vassilis Douvlis
In this spare, well-crafted film, the difficulties of repatriation are played against a story of marital infidelity and personal betrayal. After years of factory work in Germany, Elias and his much younger wife return to their almost deserted village near Ioannina. Indifferent to his wife’s unhappiness, he buys a service station/café and hires a young illegal Albanian immigrant to help run the business. The situation becomes complicated when the young man finds himself drawn to his boss’s wife. The surprise ending is a stunner.
LITTLE GREEK GODFATHER (Proti Fora Nonos)
Direction by Olga Malea
Screenplay by Olga Malea and Nicholas Papandreou
A prominent Greek politician sends his American-raised eleven year old son to Crete to win votes by baptizing the baby of a local party boss and parliamentary candidate. The young boy’s initiation into the world of politics leads him to start wondering about his own needs and not just about his father’s expectations. This gentle comedy is an ideal family film. Adults will relish the political satire while youngsters will enjoy watching the young hero come into his own.
SIRENS IN THE AEGEAN (Loufa Kai Paralayi: Sirines Sto Aegeo)
Direction and screenplay by Nikos Perakis
Military drills on an uninhabited island near Kos are disrupted when a Turkish yacht unexpectedly comes ashore with a curious collection of passengers, ranging from political refuges to Turkish beauty queens. Chaos ensues, but
hostilities are averted once stereotypes, biases and prejudices are discarded.
An example of commercial moviemaking of the highest order, this crowd-pleasing film currently holds the record for most tickets sold in its first-run engagement in Greece.
For more information, full schedules for the week and details on more films please visit http://www.hellenicamerican.cc/FilmFest2008.htm
