Echoes of the Past

source: Echoes of the Past

I find the film to be a strong 7.5 stars for its subject matter and scale. The acting can be uneven at times and the present appears hacked to death in the editing room (the much-publicized scene with Richard Chamberlain and Max von Sydow is nowhere to be found) resulting in a film that feels wobbly at times as it moves between past and present. One almost suspects that there was something far more elaborate in the mind of the creators especially when it comes to the present time. The writer has hinted as much in an article. That being said, one can only be judged by the result on the screen and despite its flaws, this is a good, anti-war film (a theme so topical and urgent these days) that uncovers a part of WW2 history few people outside Greece know. It's certainly worth watching.

I will not comment on how some people expect from a fiction movie that is based on historic events to be the equivalent of a documentary...(well I just did), but I will stand on the way this beautiful film approaches some of the darkest times of greek history...laconic but intense characters, excellent photography, strong music, and evocative atmosphere throughout the whole film. A movie that pays respect to all people that fought against Nazism. I wish we will see more greek movies like this in the future.

I am of Greek descent and had heard of the atrocious massacre in Kalavryta, Greece, prior to watching the movie. Those facts are almost irrelevant, however, when viewing this illuminating film about any, and every, war's profound scarring of mankind. Regardless of time or place, innocent humans are destroyed-not just those murdered, but also those who survive. "Echoes of the Past" (titled "Kalavryta 1943" abroad) is beautifully filmed and emotionally provoking. Legendary actor, Max von Sydow is perfectly cast as having endured the heart-wrenching occupation of his hometown, when he was just a child during World-War II, and moreso, the daily haunting of those memories. The execution of more than 500 men and male teens, and the attempted burning/suffocation of all Kalavryta's women and children, together with the annihilation of the town itself, put in stark relief the mind-numbing destruction caused by war. How poignant that this is Mr. Von Sydow's final performance before his death at age 87. Reviews and critics may note historical uncertainties in the film; however, they miss the point. The movie's focus is on the events that took place in that space, during that tragic period in 1943. Yet the film transcends that time and place. It speaks more generally to the gutting of promising lives. It also highlights the need for remembering and honoring those taken: ancestors, friends, neighbors, and even strangers. (Just as the Kalavrytino Memorial, shown toward the film's end, stands to this day for private mourning and public education.) Only by relaying the unimaginable evil of past actions will we help healing, and deter future crimes against humankind.

It is a film based on a script - fiction, with historical inaccuracies, possibly deliberate to provoke discussions and projection of the film, as it happened, or because it was demanded by the financiers in the context of questioning and de-dying from the burden of crimes and deincriminating the German, Nazi conquerors. It reproduces the historically false, German view of retaliation, which is also linked to the refusal to grant German reparations and the repayment of the forced occupation loan that to some extent shakes up and promotes. It is not a historical film beyond its Greek title and it did not manage to be a conciliatory and anti-war film Otherwise cinematically perfect film, with excellent actors, but missing scripts. It does not attribute the emotions of the horrible crime, the transport and burial of the dead at night the excavation of the tombs with the hands of the women who had just survived. Kalavryta is projected on the inside that they do not need it, but it will not be the same when the film comes out, if it comes out, on the had just survived. Kalavryta is projected on the inside that they do not need it, but it will not be the same when the film comes out, if it comes out, on the outside, because it will come out with another title. "The past is never where you left it." "How to love life when you don't have a childhood." Conclusion "We will never forget and they will not let others forget."

Few days ago, I watched the AMAZING "The Last Note"; its a modern Greek film from director Voulgaris, about the execution of the 200 prisoners in Kaisariani, the May 1st 1944. That film was INCREDIBLY good. And, it was about 200 people. This film here, is about one of THE WORST CRIMES the Nazis did in the entire Europe (and of course one of the two worst in Greece). The ENTIRE male population from 14 to 65 was executed, while the ENTIRE city burned to the ground and only young kids and women left on the ruins to weeping. So... I was expecting this film to be AT LEAST EQUAL GOOD with Voulgaris' "The Last Note". Unfortunately, is very bad! I gave just 5/10, in the memory of my survivor (and still living) father-in-law STEFANOS RODOPOYLOS, who lived second by second all these events as 13 years old boy. The film is BELLOW the 5/10, without the kindness for my father-in-law's experiance... Why is so bad? Firstly, the production was very poor. With few dollars, they tried to create an epic-dramatic film about the Kalavryta's Holocaust". They had SO FEW men to playing all these roles. The entire German "117th Division" (that did the crime in Kalavryta city) were... 10-12 actors, the most! ALL the actors playing German roles, they were speaking... Oxford's English (!) and in very few moments you could listen a couple German shouts like "Move on!" or "Forward!" (in German). The shots from the Kalavryta of 1943, where ONLY 30 minutes long (in this SHORT film of 96 total minutes). The production didn't have much money to create "sets" and re-create a Greek city of the '40s. They just found an existing place (in modern Greece) and took SOME/FEW shots to represent the Kalavryta of 1943. Secondly, the script/scenario was EXTREMELY POOR & SILLY! If you watch the film (without knowing the real events, doesn't matter) you will LAUGH from the naive-childish script. An example? ...The German Division's commander, is entering a Greek house and he's "forcing" the Greek owners to accept him (and his deputy commander) and stay/live in their house for few days. The Greek owner was member of the Resistance and in the middle of the night (while the two Germans officers were sleeping!) he left the house to join his Resistance's friends... they opening fire and fighted with Germans... he returns back to his home quite badly injured... and his wife took care his wounds all night long! The next day, the family younger boy is hiding his father's bloody clothes into their yard... the German commander WATCHING the boy... and he simply asked him politely "what were you doing in the yard, early morning?"...!!!! The father LEFT HIS OCCUPIED HOUSE... there were NO GERMAN guards in or out the house (while their COMMANDING OFFICER was sleeping inside!)... he joined his Resistance friends and OPENED FIRE (battle) to the Germans in the middle of the quite night (!!!)... he returned injured and spilling blood... his wife took care his wound ALL NIGHT LONG... and NOBODY hear or found anything about it! Not even a 6 years old kid would wrote such naive-silly script! A lot historical inaccuracies - we're talking for A LOT of them, not few - bad dialogues, bad screenplay acting (EXCEPT the great Max von Sydow), etc. Unfortunaly, they lost a GREAT opportunity to create an EPIC film, about one of the GREATEST NAZI's crime in Europe. Nope, is not a good film, sorry.

It is the first time in Greek filmography that we don't see the struggle of any social/political group of people ( like Greek Communists or Jews) during the war. This movie is not about minorities, or even the Greeks themself. It is about War Crime and how much our lives matter as human beings. It is a historic narative action about the Execution of almost the entire population of a village in Greece. So no spoilers ahead, just have in mind history facts. Directing (9/10) I would prefer less Close up shots, but they where handled properly. The way the director represented the execution of all males of the village is just a piece of art. And the aftermath was so painfull to see that honestly I felt some tears dropping. I would consider a (7/10) but there were some really memorable shots that they stay with me even after a week! Screenplay (6.5/10) Overall not bad, although it was slow at some periods and there were some silly issues as far as realism is concerned. Simple story, not bad, but I felt it could be told much sooner than it was. Acting (8/10) Ok, you have a legend, Max von Sydow, some French and some Greek actors. If you exclude Max, all the other actors were pretty decent. Not extraordinary, but did the job much better than "Ok". Yet, at some moments they gave soul and spirit. Cinematography (10/10) Seriouly, exceptional. Honestly, I haven't seen many movies, even in Hollywood these days with that quality in the photography! The Colours are in the right mood, the picture is crispy and raw, the lighting gives drama when needed, the aesthetics are memorable. Sound (9/10) Clear conversations, great sound effects, pure emotion at some shots. Nothing to be complex or disturbing. Overall (8.5/10) I thought about it a lot. If I was not Greek I would still like this movie for all the above reasons. Maybe I wouldn't care about the Script so much, but still I would enjoy it. I have a feeling this movie will have average rating because there is a problem with the Greeks as population. The Greeks hate whatever is Greek, most propably because they compare multi billionaire productions with local Athenian artists. I hope I'm wrong, but history always repeats itself so...

A powerful film about a not well known Nazi massacre of the male population in a small town in Greece during World War II. It is nicely filmed and acted, and the story of the massacre is something I knew little about so bringing that to screen was interesting. Echoes of the Past is a film I enjoyed, even though it is very emotional, especially in the scenes with the separation of the families and the moments after the massacre. It is not a war movie in the classic sense, but an honest look at the immediate and long term effects of the war. Highly recommended.

Really loved the movie, the photography and the last part of one of the greatest actors, Max von Zydow. A hearbreaking story, based on the story of Kalavryta, one of the places Nazi atrocities pushed to the limits.

I really enjoyed this film.. It is not a masterpiece, but it's strong, emotional and real. And when I say real I do not refer to historical facts. It is not a documentary or a historic featured film. It is just a feature film INSPIRED by true events. It is very well made, and very humane... The film mainly shows the monstrosities the Nazis execute in WW2. One negative thing I could mention would be the big difference, story wise, between the past and the present time. The past time is much much stronger and better written than the present time. Direction, photography, editing, production design, sound, costumes, make-up, soundtrack, and special effects are equally great! Balanced and united for the shake of the story-line. Acting varies from medium to marvelous (thank you Mr Sydow...)