Monday, 1 August 2016

Your favourite films set in Crete

Your favourite films set in Crete.
What did you choose? Have you seen them all? 
Here are  seven films, in order of popularity, all set on Crete. 
A couple of them, unfortunately were not filmed here. I have mentioned the places they were filmed so you can watch out for recognisable landmarks - and in the case of Zorba even people who were extras!

Links to Amazon for more information and one whole film on line!

(Hania, Stavros, Kokkino Horio)

The story of a boisterous Greek peasant with a lusty love of life who takes a young English writer under his wing; together they embark upon troublesome romances, sour business deals and more.


(Not filmed in Crete)

A distinguished British cast, headed by 1950s heart-throb Dirk Bogarde, leads I'll Met By Moonlight--a Powell and Pressburger war film which is based on a true story. British agents conspire with local partisans to kidnap a prominent German General during the occupation of Crete in WWII. They decide to bring the officer to a beachhead, where he'll be transported to Egypt, but the Germans don't take this lying down and their method of revenge capture the Brits by surprise.




(Heraklion)

The film tells the story of Domenicos Theotokopoulos, better known as El Greco, a great Greek artist of the 16th century with an uncompromising character, who sets off from his homeland Crete (Village of Fodele) and goes to Venice and finallyToledo, in search of freedom and love. There he is confronted by his greatest adversary, the Spanish Inquisition, but his creative consciousness and power make him stand out and overcome barbarity and ignorance.
Being imprisoned and awaiting execution by the Spanish Inquisition, Domenicos (Nick Ashdon) writes out his story, thus parts of his life play out in extended flashbacks. Born on the island of Crete, which was at the time part of the Republic of Venice, he falls in love with Francesca (Dimitra Matsouka), daughter of the Venetian governor of Crete. But his father is preparing a political rebellion and as a result Domenicos leaves the island and moves to Venice, away from the young woman. There he meets the famous painter Titian (Sotiris Moustakas) and the Spanish priest Fernando Niño de Guevara (Juan Diego Botto). Guevara immediately shows a confused interest in Domenicos, and, fighting personal demons - calls Domenicos before the Inquisition where he must defend himself against charges of heresy.



(Hania, Heraklion, Knossos)

In 1962 wealthy married couple Chester and Colette MacFarland (Mortensen and Dunst) are in the Acropolis of Athens, Greece, when they meet shady tour guide Rydal (Isaac). Rydal is immediately taken with the beautiful Colette and doesn't hestitate when the couple invite him to dine with them. Later in the evening, however, he begins to realise that Chester is hiding a dark secret and soon finds himself embroiled in murder. Rydal helps the MacFarlands evade the authorities but his feelings for Colette cause tension between him and Chester, making the already precarious situation even more dangerous. The action then moves to Hania and Knossos.






(Not filmed in Crete)

Eons after the Gods won their mythic struggle against the Titans, a new evil threatens the land. Mad with power, King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) has declared war against humanity. Amassing a bloodthirsty army of soldiers disfigured by his own hand, Hyperion has scorched Greece in search of the legendary Epirus Bow, a weapon of unimaginable power forged in the heavens by Ares. 

Only he who possesses this bow can unleash the Titans, who have been imprisoned deep within the walls of Mount Tartaros since the dawn of time and thirst for revenge. In the king’s hands, the bow would rain destruction upon mankind and annihilate the Gods. But ancient law dictates the Gods must not intervene in man’s conflict. They remain powerless to stop Hyperion…until a peasant named Theseus (Henry Cavill) comes forth as their only hope. 

Secretly chosen by Zeus, Theseus must save his people from Hyperion and his hordes. Rallying a band of fellow outsiders—including visionary priestess Phaedra (Freida Pinto) and cunning slave Stavros (Stephen Dorff)—one hero will lead the uprising, or watch his homeland fall into ruin and his Gods vanish into legend. 



The fairy and the man


(Hania, Agios Nicholaos)

The daughter (Alice Vouyiouklaki) of Fourtounaki (Dionysis Papagiannopoulos) is forced to become engaged Skandalakis (Spyros Kalogerou). The return of Vrontaki (Dimitris Papamichail) from Athens and flirting with his girlfriend will lead to love, and both young people are unaware that they belong to rival families. Their love, however, will forever end the feud Vrontaki-Fourtounaki.

If you have any other suggestions for films set in Crete please let me know.

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