I went to watch this movie fearing that because of its female directorship, it would focus more on the "patriarchy" issue and not on the rest of the stuff. Thankfully, I was completely wrong. The movie perfectly captures the mental and psychological world of the protagonist as well as the era (1902, Skiathos Island). As far as the acting goes, it was not something special but is surely stands out from most Greek movies. Papadiamantis wrote a masterpiece and Eve Nathena transfered that masterpiece into the big screen in a way well beyond what we have to get used to in Greece. In other words, go and see it!
6 Reviews
A very decent Greek movie,one of the few ones.
bob_katsionis-7567012 December 2023
Just watched Fonissa in all its glory on the big screen:
Great picture and DoP. Costumes,scenery,ligh,props,all really well taken care of.
The acting as expected was top notch by the star Ms Karabeti,however due to the strange idiomatic 1800s Greek language the rest of the cast felt sub par to me,as expected once again: most actors in Greek movies perform like they are on a theatrical stage rather than on a movie. And they always use the excuse of "that's how we wanted it,it's more dramatic" Well,nope it's just annoying.
Same goes for the usual problem in 99% of Greek movies: LACK OF CURVES. Films need to have some curves of tension,change of pace,emotion,and have a climax. This one didn't. Same stuff happening to all the film same pace same angles until the last scene when it's ends so abrupt and you re like "ah ok" But in all,a decent movie and bravo to everyone,especially director and DoP and costumes.
The acting as expected was top notch by the star Ms Karabeti,however due to the strange idiomatic 1800s Greek language the rest of the cast felt sub par to me,as expected once again: most actors in Greek movies perform like they are on a theatrical stage rather than on a movie. And they always use the excuse of "that's how we wanted it,it's more dramatic" Well,nope it's just annoying.
Same goes for the usual problem in 99% of Greek movies: LACK OF CURVES. Films need to have some curves of tension,change of pace,emotion,and have a climax. This one didn't. Same stuff happening to all the film same pace same angles until the last scene when it's ends so abrupt and you re like "ah ok" But in all,a decent movie and bravo to everyone,especially director and DoP and costumes.
As expected
statheodore1 December 2023
I would like to see a different "spin" from the director on the classic "Fonissa" of Papadiamantis . Personally, I wanted a more modern approach and building of the main character of Kariofilia Karabeti. Karabeti on the role of Fonissa - the murderer- delivers perfectly and throughout the whole film building her psychological background and her opinion which is that when you kill a young woman you save her from world's cruelty. I would like some deeper profiling without the simplicity that is noticed on the film. I felt a rush on it but also getting a repetitive pattern . The main female actors on the film were absolute breathtaking especially in some scenes , but the directing of the film making it a horror version of the classic nouvelle, was just not that what was needed . The sense that something is missing was there , the social era was depicted and the film was saved by it's actors . Needed something extra to reach on top , and that couldn't come with ghosts but only maybe with the true horror of the eyes of a gifted artist such as Karabeti.
It s a maybe for me
g_bit16 December 2023
Nai men alla...
The story needed more work; as Georgousopoulos once told me when we were having coffee in Kolonaki, if a creator uses Papadiamantis' work they should respect the main structure, and then they may add whatever the heck they wish to add; if they don't, the plot starts to have problems.
I went to watch the movie hoping it would be a masterpiece. I think they did a good job but something was missing...
On the other hand I loved the level of production; them cloths; the scenery; the beautiful village; the actresses; Karampeti, in particular.
Maybe next time a creator makes a movie out of Fonissa they try to use Zoulias' work for "the women of Papadianantis".
The story needed more work; as Georgousopoulos once told me when we were having coffee in Kolonaki, if a creator uses Papadiamantis' work they should respect the main structure, and then they may add whatever the heck they wish to add; if they don't, the plot starts to have problems.
I went to watch the movie hoping it would be a masterpiece. I think they did a good job but something was missing...
On the other hand I loved the level of production; them cloths; the scenery; the beautiful village; the actresses; Karampeti, in particular.
Maybe next time a creator makes a movie out of Fonissa they try to use Zoulias' work for "the women of Papadianantis".
Such a shame, this movie is an injustice to a great Greek novel..
paolad7 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
If you have read the book and you know the story of Hadoula you will probably not like this movie. If you have not read the book, the movie will probably bore you or tire you.
First of all, the film lacked some necessary dialogues and scenes to further explain the plot properly, it was too ''heavy'' and filled with scenes of so called symbolism that dragged on and on.
The men in this film are all poorly portraid, being savage, cruel, unloving and ungreatful and saddly this was not the case in the original story Papadiamantis wrote - the men too had fillings, as they are also human. I feel like in the movie's effort to show how much women suffered back then, they killed the actual story and only focused on women's suffering and pain.
The plot of the movie was not the same to the plot of the book and the additions seemed improper. Our main character Hadoula lost her ''colors'' and was not portraid as beautifully as Papadiamadis wrote her. At the end of the movie the crescendo was dissapointing to say the least - we didnt get to see if our protagonist would be judged/killed by God or Humanity - instead she (Hadoula) jumped of a clif. The movie was dragging on an on with bucolic scenes. Honestly it feels like this movie does great injustice to a lovely book.
Regarding miss Karabeti, she was wonderful at her role, but even she could not save the movie, as her character on this movie was poorly written.
**If you can - please read the book**
First of all, the film lacked some necessary dialogues and scenes to further explain the plot properly, it was too ''heavy'' and filled with scenes of so called symbolism that dragged on and on.
The men in this film are all poorly portraid, being savage, cruel, unloving and ungreatful and saddly this was not the case in the original story Papadiamantis wrote - the men too had fillings, as they are also human. I feel like in the movie's effort to show how much women suffered back then, they killed the actual story and only focused on women's suffering and pain.
The plot of the movie was not the same to the plot of the book and the additions seemed improper. Our main character Hadoula lost her ''colors'' and was not portraid as beautifully as Papadiamadis wrote her. At the end of the movie the crescendo was dissapointing to say the least - we didnt get to see if our protagonist would be judged/killed by God or Humanity - instead she (Hadoula) jumped of a clif. The movie was dragging on an on with bucolic scenes. Honestly it feels like this movie does great injustice to a lovely book.
Regarding miss Karabeti, she was wonderful at her role, but even she could not save the movie, as her character on this movie was poorly written.
**If you can - please read the book**
What a mess!!!
goutasos1 December 2023
What misery a bad Papadiamantis story in its bad film adaptation. The case is moving slowly. Very late, you could barely watch it if you have sleep problems. The protagonist saves the situation a little, but in the midst of a bad mess, she too gets carried away. What a bad movie. How Bad interpretations. A mess of an hour and a half that you just want to end before you get a headache. Don't make the mistake of seeing her. Don't press cinema and if you happen to be on TV just change the channel. An attempt by the director to give a dramatic tone to the film is very dark in every scene. The countless overcast shots and the constant black clothing of the actors. A bad music and overall a golden mediocrity.
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