Politiki kouzina is a movie about the cuisine of the Polis and its people. The Polis (City) is no other than Constantinoupolis (Istanbul): "it was called the Polis because it was the most beautiful city of the world!" as exclaims the father of the protagonist. The film actually revolves around the attachment that people have to this city which goes beyond nationality or time period. The City has to do with images, sounds but also with smells and taste! When people leave it, they carry with them their memories from it through stories, customs and the art of cooking.
This movie has become a box office hit in Greece because of it's grand production for the standards in the country and because of it's appealing subject matter that deals with sensitive memories from recent history and...food!
The story is told through the innocent memories of a child, that mix fear, trauma and humor quite eloquently. The film achieves not to provoke while shedding light to a time long gone at a very personal and humane level.
While stage design and special effects are made beautifully, the film is let down somewhat by mediocre acting, inappropriate takes/angles, and to my opinion the middle portion (Fanis' childhood in Athens) is too long compared to the scenes in the Polis that I expected to see more of.
These lost opportunities deprive it from being excellent. I give a 7/10.
This movie has become a box office hit in Greece because of it's grand production for the standards in the country and because of it's appealing subject matter that deals with sensitive memories from recent history and...food!
The story is told through the innocent memories of a child, that mix fear, trauma and humor quite eloquently. The film achieves not to provoke while shedding light to a time long gone at a very personal and humane level.
While stage design and special effects are made beautifully, the film is let down somewhat by mediocre acting, inappropriate takes/angles, and to my opinion the middle portion (Fanis' childhood in Athens) is too long compared to the scenes in the Polis that I expected to see more of.
These lost opportunities deprive it from being excellent. I give a 7/10.