Marjoram | Ματζουράνα (2013)

On Tuesday 17 June at 19:00 and on Wednesday 18 June at 21:00 we will screen in cinema Utopia the film Marjoram (Greece, colour, 2013, 102 min) directed by Olga Malea. The film is in the original Greek version with English subtitles. Not suitable for children under 16 years.

Synopsis

Marjoram is a psychological suspense drama about a mother-daughter relationship in which love and abuse seem go hand in hand. Anna (11) is a smart and talented kid. Mary, her mother, actively supports Anna so that she can get the best out of her talents. However, suddenly Anna starts behaving in strange ways, putting herself in danger. When asked what is happening, Anna claims that she is just fine. Her weird behaviour however continues, driving Mary to her limits. Why a child, who seems happy on the surface, is acting so unpredictably? Why a mother, who loves her child so much, is having no clue of what is going on?

Cast: Iosif Polyzoidis, Triandafylli Bouterakou, Natalia Dragoumi, Giorgos Giannakakos, Trifon Karatzas, Christina Mitropoulou, Maria Riskaki, Youlika Skafida

What did the press say

Mixed reviews for Marjoram, a film the Greek audience did not die for, taking into account the box office numbers. It's an audience that opts for American blockbusters, after all, so nothing surprises us. Read a more detailed point of view from Penni Pappas  and from Zoom info.

One Step Ahead | Ένα Βήμα Μπροστά (2012)

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.

Hannibal ante Portas | Ο Αννίβας προ των Πυλών (2011)

On Tuesday 29 April at 19:00 and on Wednesday 30 April at 21:00 we will screen in cinema Utopia the film Hannibal ante Portas (Greece, colour, 2011, 100 min) directed by Elissavet Chronopoulou. The film is in the original Greek version with English subtitles. Not suitable for children under 16 years.

Synopsis

The scrappy 18-year-old daughter of a small-town prostitute storms the bastion of the rich and powerful in this drama set in the elite country-club world of horse trials and show jumping. Sheer talent and an unbreakable bond with a valuable and temperamental thoroughbred may not be enough for Chara, who aspires to rise from stable hand to champion by challenging the mistress of a womanizing horse-breeder for the favour of her patron.

This is the first European film on athletic horse riding. It has been screened at the Moscow International Film Festival (Russia, 2012) and the Cairo International Film Festival (Egypt, 2012).

Burning Heads | Το Γάλα (2011)

On Tuesday 18 March at 19:00 and on Wednesday 19 March at 21:00 we will screen in cinema Utopia the film Burning Heads (Greece, colour, 2011, 100 min, original title Tο Γάλα) directed by by Yorgos Siougas. The film is in the original Greek and Russian version with English subtitles. Not suitable for children under 16 years.

Synopsis

Based on the hit stage play To Gala by Vassilis Katsikonouris, Burning Heads offers an insightful perspective into the life of a family of immigrants living in today's Athens. Lefteris, a 20 year old bordering on schizophrenia, is indulged by his overprotective mother Rina as he lives life through his memories of childhood in the Russian countryside. In contrast, his older brother Antonis rejects his roots and follows his ambition as he prepares for a new life with his boss' daughter Natasa. When Antonis brings home his Greek bride-to-be, the family dynamics are unravelled as each one is forced to face reality and deal with the issues that haunt them.

Cast: Omiros Poulakis, Promitheas Aliferopoulos, Ioanna Tsirigouli, Iro Bezou

Jace (2011)

On Tuesday 25 February at 19:00 and on Wednesday 26 Febaruary at 21:00 we will screen in cinema Utopia the film Jace (Greece, colour, 2011, 142 min) written and directed by by Menelaos Karamaghiolis. The film is in the original Greek version with English subtitles. Not suitable for children under 16 years.

Synopsis

Jace is of Greek origin, born in Albania, the illegitimate son of a woman who is brutally murdered by her own family when, a little after giving birth to him, she refuses to reveal his father’s identity. The orphan boy grows up amidst more violence. He is barely seven when witnesses a massacre. His foster family in Gjirokaster falls prey to the Albanian mob. The villains spare the boy, but they turn him into a murderer, by forcing him to shoot – on the spot – his foster father. Now in the hands of obscure gangsters who "expert" homeless children for various reasons (reasons ranging from beggary to organ trade), J.A.C.E. is immediately "exported" and ends up in Athens, Greece, begging at street corners, exploring the secret horrors of brutal institutions for young offenders or serving obscure patrons, in a world where violent loss seems to be his only destiny. The movie follows Jace's inverted Odyssey through time in a dark universe of abuse, murder and fear, as he desperately (and silently) seeks for a "family" and a sense of belonging.

Greek Cinema in Luxembourg: Article in the Greek Newspaper "To Pontiki" (May 2013)

Greek Newspaper "To Pontiki" features an article on the Club in the print and online version. You can read the full article online here.

The European Youth Portal Luxembourg on the Greek Cinema Club (May 2013)

The European Youth Portal, Luxembourgish version mentions Ciné-Club Hellénique as one of the worthy cinema hubs in the area. In more detail:

Ciné Club Hellénique or Greek Cinema Club is a very active film club over the last decade. Monthly screenings, and occasional special guests who present their film and take audience questions in the end of the film, can secure you with your monthly dose of the emerging Greek cinema. All films are screened in the original language with English or French subtitles.

You may read the full article entitled "Cinema in Luxembourg" here.

Antonis Boskoitis on his visit as guest director of the Greek Cinema Club in Luxembourg (May 2013)

Greek filmmaker and the club's guest Antonis Boskoitis, describes his visit in Luxembourg to present his most recent documentary Katerina Gogou, Reinstating the Dark Side on his personal blog Asmata kai Miasmata.

He writes in detail on his 1st day in Luxembourg, when he discovered the city and checked the Utopia Cinema.

He then goes on to describe his 2nd day, the day of the screening and the Q & A session.

11 Meetings with my Father | 11 Συναντήσεις με τον Πατέρα μου

On Tuesday 28 January at 19:00 and on Wednesday 29 January at 21:00 we will screen in cinema Utopia the film 11 Meetings with my Father (Greece, colour, 2012, 92 min) by Nikos Cornilios. The film is in the original Greek and Swedish version with English subtitles. Suitable for children over 13 years.

Synopsis

Eva, a young woman and a student of classical singing, decides to meet her father, who is unaware of her existence. Thomas works as a guard in a truck lot. He lives in a container and aspires to nothing. Their meeting will be a meeting of two different worlds and the relationship they develop will be all their own; a relationship beyond easy classification.

Cast: Lambros Apostolou, Eva Galogavrou, Eva Stylander, Maira Milolidaki, George Tzouvelekis

L (Learning)

On Tuesday 17 December at 19:00 and on Wednesday 18 December at 21:30 we will screen in cinema Utopia the film L (Greece, colour, 2011, 87 min) by Babis Makridis. The film is in the original EL version with Εnglish subtitles. Suitable for children over 13 years.

Synopsis

L begins with an ode to being a bear and ends with an ode to the sea. What happens in between constitutes one of the more original, willfully bizarre films of the year.

A man lives in his car. He's 40 and separated from his wife and kids, who live in a different car. They meet in parking lots. A professional driver, the man delivers honey to a narcoleptic man and often dreams of his friend, who was killed when a hunter mistook him for a bear. Frequently late delivering honey, the man is fired, and his driving skills are questioned. Thrust into existential uncertainty, he abandons "car life" and joins a rogue motorbike gang.

Fish n' Chips (2011)

On Tuesday 12 November at 19:00 and on Wednesday 13 November at 21:30 we will screen in cinema Utopia the film Fish n' Chips (Greece, 2011, colour, 102 min) by Elias Demetriou. The film is in the original version with Εnglish subtitles. 

Synopsis

A contemporary drama, Fish n' Chips opens with Greek-cypriot Andy living in London and working in a traditional fish and chips shop, as the title divulges. The deterioration of his mum's health induces his return to Cyprus, where he decides to continue the job he's an expert at, but things don't work out quite as he has planned. While living temporarily with his married brother, and having to face painful incidents his mum's Alzheimer brings upon, Andy has to clearly face the vital question "where do I belong, in the end?" and redefine his identity issues. 

The film which won Best Directing Prize at the London Greek Film Festival is featuring a multicultural cast. It stars Marios Ioannou, Marlene Kaminsky, Anne Marie O' Sullivan, Diomedes Koufteros etc.

Kisses to the Children | Φιλιά εις τα παιδιά and/και Los Bilbilikos, a Song from Thessaloniki - Ένα Τραγούδι από τη Θεσσαλονίκη

On Tuesday 15 October at 19:00 and on Wednesday 16 October at 21:30 we will screen in cinema Utopia two documentaries on the Jewish Community of Greece, suitable for children over 12: Kisses to the Children by Vassilis Loules (original title Φιλιά εις τα Παιδιά, Greece, 2012, colour and black & white, 115 min, Greek original version with English subtitles) and Los Bilbilikos, A Song from Thessaloniki (original title Los Bilbilikos, Ένα Τραγούδι από τη Θεσσαλονίκη, 2011, colour, 21 min, Greek original version, without subtitles) in the presence of the scriptwriter Ms Papastefanou, who will take questions from the audience after the screening. The film is a co-production of Stela Papastefanou, Maria Papadopoulou, Thessaloniki Film Festival and ET3.

Kisses to the Children

Five Greek-Jewish children who were saved by Christian families during the German Occupation, five “hidden children” who lived in total silence, tell their stories. Stories of terror, anguish and confusion but also stories of salvation and carefree childhood in the arms of strangers. Secret Gardens of Eden, nests of love away from the horror of the Holocaust. Five children were forced to mature abruptly. Rosina, Iossif, Eftyhia, Shelly and Marios grew old, carrying the memory of thousands of children, those who were never given the time to grow up.