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Four men in suits and four children who are fighting for a playground

26 March 2010 / 16:03:01  GRReporter
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The movie „4 black suits” by Reno Haralambidi and the documentary “Children don’t play” shock the audience with their frankness. Furthermore it is a surprise that the new film “4 black suits” (2010) which tells the story of four gravediggers who, in their attempt to hit the jackpot, agree to carry the body of a Greek passed away in Costa Rika from the port in Piraeus to the Levktra village in Beotia region. The catch of the tricky lawyer, who assigns them the job is that they have to carry the body… on foot. The characters in the movie turn out to be involved in a trip with unforeseen events, accompanied by their darkest memories, which become alive before their eyes.

In each one of the gravediggers we see a part of ourselves, writes one of the critics of the movie: “wise guy” who wants to be the leader at any price, even though he has no idea about what he is doing; the unsuccessful actor who cannot make his way up and makes a performance of “Hamlet” for empty chairs; a former prisoner who has found peace with himself, however also with the alcohol and who is the only professional gravedigger, however he has hidden deep inside of him a pain which rankles him.

Reno Haralambidis makes the film light in the style of Morricone and his characters “black suits” are not ashamed by their idols which inspire them – Jim Jarmusch and Quentin Tarantino.

The documentary of Angeliki Andrikopoulu and Argiris Tsepelikas “Children don’t play” is also in theaters now and the first positive comments are already a fact. Four children from Patras have no place to play and the only way to find a solution to the problem is to ask the mayor. The young characters are at the age between 9 and 13 years old and have decided to fight for their right to have a place where to play and after all a right for a life.

The camera of the two young directors captures scenes from the everyday life which one could really feel they breath – the conditions in which each child grows up at home, their courage, boldness and patience. The small things for which the two girls compete, about who is going to be the leader because the boys are “soldiers” who only know how to follow. Hrisa, Alexandra, Hristos and Vlad want to live like the normal children.

“You enter on the internet from 12 o’clock and you play “call of duty” says the 13 years old Hrisa. “And what do you gain? Nothing. And if you play ball… it is cool. You argue, you score points, you are happy, you are mad, you practice a sport. What is this internet and nonsense?!” In their need to have a playground where to spend their time, the children unite and manage to know on the door of the mayor after they jump over all bureaucratic obstacles which are sending them from one office to another. The meeting with the mayor is held in September 2009 and their request for a deserted ground which is not used by anybody comes true.

Tags: cinema
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