Miranda Kounelaki
"A," a Greek filmmaker living in exile in the United States, returns to his native Ptolemas to attend a special screening of one of his extremely controversial films. But A's real interest lies elsewhere--the mythical reels of the very first film shot by the Manakia brothers, who, at the dawn of the age of cinema, tirelessly criss-crossed the Balkans and, without regard for national and ethnic strife, recorded the region's history and customs. Did these primitive, never-developed images really exist?
Based on some historical events, the film gives a romanticized biography of Theodoros Kolokotronis, a Greek historical hero serving as a metaphor for Greece herself. Based on a circular view of history, the film presents conflicting ideologies - primitive communism, anarchism, chiefdom or kingdom, personality cult - and shows the institutions of property and power in a bad light.
A Middle East allied Force commander, Themis, parachutes in occupied Greece to organize a sabotage in the Meteora region but betrays the Germans and falls into ambush. Before retiring, he calls Fotis, a student who had hidden his house, and urges him to go to Athens and meet an Aristides. Despite the mobilization of the Germans who perform all the hostages they have captured, including his father, Fotis finally arrives in Athens, meets with Aristides and accepts to cooperate with him. With the name of Kostas Alexandrou he catches a room in the Papadima family home, falls in love with their daughter Anna and becomes a "friend" with the German Major Karl Asberg. He accepts the co-operation proposed by Carl - to become his agent - to supposedly trap the guerrillas. But he actually misleads the conquerors about blowing a munitions train. His fate is the same as the fate of every patriot who is sacrificed for his homeland.
In 1943, a commando team wants to try to destroy the largest airport of the Germans in Crete. The leader of the commando, Nikitas is Cretan, but Lefteris, who is the leader of the resistance group, refuses to help him. Eventually the mission succeeds, but Nikitas is captured. Then the resistance fighters attack in prison and release the prisoners who were to be executed.
Vasilis Karatzoglou is a successful singer who lives with his mother and sister having lost his father in the destruction of Smyrni. From an old man learns that his father did not die but was arrested by the Turks. He decides to follow the scientific mission of Professor John Anderson in Turkey, to find traces of his father.
A poor young man (Thanos Livaditis) is working in a car cage and buying a car, mortgaging his mother's house (Eleni Zafiriou). It turns into a pirated taxi but has an accident. To repair the damage he suffered, he is forced to work for a wealthy man (Theodoros Moridis). He undertakes to make the driver of his spoiled daughter (Miranda Kounellaki). It will affect her and transform her into a responsible person, so she falls in love with him. At the same time, the young person gains the respect and appreciation of her father.
The small loustrakos Vasilis Maras alongside the school of fine on the streets of Athens to make money. The mother finds injustice in prison for the murder of Demetrias. With the persistence of the king, however, and the help of a lawyer, the Karelia, the mother of leaving prison.
Maroula comes from Syros, established in Athens, to work as a servant in a wealthy home, but the hostess takes her off. So he is forced to seek refuge in the house of three poor musicians whom he met on board: Flax, Tramp and Maneta. She thinks to return to her island, but they persuade her to stay with them and become a singer. Maroula falls in love with Lino, but at the same time her heart is beating for Mars (the son of the family who drove her, whom he has met by chance on the street). A little exaggeration makes her feel that Linus does not love her as much as he wants, so he recruits to Mars, but his mother does everything to separate them. Eventually he does. Linos comforts Maroula and even follows her in Syros, while Aris, who then decides to marry her, loses the ship.
