Greece in Cinema

The abundant sunshine, archeological monuments, blue skies and natural scenery has provided ideal settings for many Hollywood directors and producers.

BEFORE MIDNIGHT @ PELOPONNESE (2014)

The last film of a trilogy, Before Midnight follows two people, Jesse (Ethan Hawk) and Celine (Julie Delpy), nine years after the second sequel Before Sunset, as they explore their choices and views on love and life, from the time they first met, featured in the first film Before Sunrise, almost 2 decades ago.

Starring – Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick.

MAMMA MIA @ SKIATHOS & SKOPELOS (2008)

The famous jukebox musical has its bride-to-be in search of her real father and decides to invite her mother’s previous partners back to the Aegean island to find out who it is.
Having the time of their life in the process, the island’s images are as impressive as the film’s stars, and the music of Abba provides the perfect pitch for this “feel-good” film.

Starring – Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, StellanSkarsgård.

LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE @ SANTORINI (2003)

Few movies can boast about the combination of action and breathtaking scenery right in their opening sequence. Lara Croft explodes into a screen full of Santorini’s Caldera that becomes part of the scenarios plot involving mythical Atlantis, Alexander the Great, Pandora’s Box and a local’s Greek wedding added to the mix.

Starring – Angelina Jolie, Gerard Butler, DjimonHounsou, Chris Barrie.

CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN @ KEFALONIA(2001)

During WWII, an Italian officer is put in command of a garrison that is occupying the island of Kefalonia. The movie depicts the everyday life of Captain Corelli (Nicholas Cage) and his encounter with a beautiful local woman, Pelagia (Penelope Cruz); the dangers of the war and the hardships that they carry throughout.

Starring – Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz, John Hurt.

SHIRLEY VALENTINE @ MYKONOS (1989)

Shirley, a middle aged housewife, who has lost herself in her marriage and is trying to remember who and how she was before, finds herself in a rut. But when her friend wins an all-expenses paid trip to Greece and invites her to join, her whole life is changed around.

Starring – Pauline Collins, Tom Conti, Julia McKenzie.

THE BIG BLUE @ ALONISOS & AMORGOS (1988)

French director Luc Besson fell in love with the islands of the Aegean, while telling the story of the rivalry and friendship of the two great free-divers, Enzo Magiorca (Jean Reno) and Jacque Mayol (Jean-Marc Barr). The film had such an impact that the then President of France, Jacques Chirac, referred to the “Big Blue” generation, while describing Mayol, a French diving legend who died in 2001.

Starring – Rosanna Arquette, Jean Reno, Jean-Marc Barr.

SUMMER LOVERS @ MYKONOS, SANTORINI & CRETE (1982)

Michael (Peter Gallagher) and Cathy (Daryl Hannah), a young couple set out for their summer holidays to the sandy beaches of the Greek islands. Getting accustomed with the Greek way of life and the beauty of the Greek Aegean Sea, Michael meets a young French Archaeologist; enchanted by her charm, Cathy has a problem with the two of them getting too close. When confronting her, little does she know what the outcome would be for the 3 of them.

Starring – Daryl Hannah, Peter Gallagher,Valerie Quennessen.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – JAMES BOND @ CORFU & METEORA (1981)

Set out on a mission, 007 joins forces with a vindictive woman and a Greek hero of the resistance movement to recover a lost British encryption device, before it falls into the hands of the enemy.
Spectacular views of Meteora and Corfu.

Starring – Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet, Topol.

THE BURGLARS @ ATHENS (1971)

In 1970’s Athens, a group of professional burglars plan a heist to steal an emerald from the home of a gem collector. But the Greek police are on their trail, and do what they can to stop them.
A movie full of excitement that will have you on the edge of your seat; and with great scenery of downtown Athens.

Starring –Jean-Paul Belmondo,Omar Sharif, Dyan Cannon, Robert Hossein.

ZORBA THE GREEK @ CRETE (1964)

While traveling to Crete to inspect an abandoned mine his father owns, English author Basil (Alan Bates), meets the vigorous peasant Zorba, who claims he has mining experience, and is hired by him. Against the backdrop of the often harsh conditions of island life, Basil finds love and tragic loss and is led to embrace life by Zorba, who against all odds, never loses his lust for life and leads Basil in that memorable sirtaki dance.
Based on the novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis, Anthony Quinn steals the show with his great take on Zorbas.

Starring – Anthony Quinn, Alan Bates, Irene Papas, Sotiris Moustakas.

NEVER ON SUNDAY @ ATHENS (1960)

French director Jules Dassin fell in love with Greece and Greek actress Melina Mercouri, as he tried to adapt a Pygmalion story between an American scholar and a Greek free spirited prostitute. Nominated for 5 Oscars, and winning one; it is considered to be the absolute introduction to “Greek modern civilization for beginners”. Greek philosophy with a good music score as a bonus.

Starring – Melina Mercouri and Jules Dassin.

BOY ON A DOLPHIN @ HYDRA (1957)

A poor sponge diver from Hydra discovers an ancient Greek statue of a boy on a dolphin;finds herself in a dilemma of having to choose between an American archeologist who wants to return it the Greek authorities, and her boyfriend who happens to be an conniving art dealer who has no other interest but to sell it for profit.

Starring – Alan Ladd, Clifton Webb, Sophia Loren.