On Tuesday 13 May at 19:00 and on Wednesday 14 May at 21:00 we will screen in cinema Utopia the film One Step Ahead (Greece, colour, 2012, 136 min, original title Ένα Βήμα Μπροστά) directed by Dimitris Athyridis. The film is in the original Greek version with English subtitles.
Synopsis
One Step Ahead is a documentary which follows Giannis Boutaris, now mayor of the city of Thessaloniki, in his political effort during the municipal elections in Greece during November 2010. Giannis Boutaris is one of the leading wine producers in Greece and a cured former alcoholic, awarded for his exceptional ecologically activities in favor of the protection of the natural environment, special member of the local civic society, a personality that remains unconventional despite his 68 years. As the country faces a period of political and economical hardship, due to Greece’ s bankruptcy and the imposed international economic control, Giannis Boutaris is fighting his own battle with several enemies.
The film reaches out and sheds light to the personality of the protagonist with the streets of Thessaloniki as a background. In addition the documentary describes the cultural identity of the city and its history, and elevates to the public eye the variety of the special characteristics and contradiction of current reality in Greece. The film looks for the social dimensions of a personal story, and the deeper meaning of ideas and words like, crises, dead end, dependence, elections and rehabilitation of a former alcoholic. The story of Giannis Boutaris, his rehabilitation that was based upon a change of ethics and mentality, through activities beneficial for the public and those in need, gives to us all the courage to look in the mirror and convince ourselves that we can transform our defects into powerful incentives for positive thinking and action, and finally love.
