Customer Reviews

A Matter of Dignity

5 star:		(4)
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A fascinating snapshot of the Athenian aristocracy in the 1950's, impoverished and corrupted by decades of war. Michael Cacoyannis' leftist political leanings are not coveyed with any subtlety, but his direction, on shoestring budget (as usual for this era of Greek film), is impressive. The lovely Ellie Lambeti is also excellent as the lead. A Matter of Dignity is a short and thought-provoking film worth considering as an initial taste of the Greek cinema.

A Matter of Dignity is a film I thourougly enjoyed watching. I had never seen a Greek movie before, and this story made me want to see more. Chloe is a young woman torn between duty to her family and duty to herself. I could relate to her and her story without any difficulty. It was easy to put myself in her place and think: What would I do if I were faced with her dilemma? The scenes of her trying to blot out her pain with laughter, dancing and a few drinks are very powerful. The ending could have been different. Chloe's mother is, I think, typical of upper class women then and now. I would certainly watch this movie again.

The beautiful daughter of an upper-class Greek family realizes what she must do to survive as her family sinks into a morass of debt and dishonesty concocted to preserve their reputation.Cacoyannis creates a cynical portrait of Greek upper class life. A wealthy family is on the verge of bankruptcy, and driven by the paranoid and superficial mother, struggle to maintain a facade of security at the cost of strong family bonds. An exceptional drama that is beautifully acted and typical of Cacoyannis' masterful direction.

This work is outstanding. The acting and story line make this Greek Movie Classic a joy to watch. The theme brings one back to the situation in Greece that is long gone but the underlying human story is still relevant today.