Synopsis
Katina, an impoverished Greek woman, tries to arrange the marriage of her shepherd son, Thanos, to Despina, the daughter of a wealthy landowner. But Despina’s father, Vlahopoulos refuses to give his blessings.
Thanos and Despina
Cast
Director
Producers
Writer
Editors
Cinematography
Composer
Costume Design
Studio
Countries
Language
Alternative Titles
Oi voskoi, The Shepherds of Disorder, The Shepherds of Calamity, Θάνος και Δέσποινα, Οι βοσκοί της συμφοράς, Les pâtres du désordre, Os Pastores da Desordem, 灾难的牧羊人
Releases by Date
Premiere
-
Italy
Source: IMDB (Venice)
Releases by Country
Italy
26 Aug 1967
- Premiere Source: IMDB (Venice)
Popular reviews
More-
The long-time banned masterpiece by Nico Papatakisis a film which serves a strong critique on every aspect of Greece of its time (in my opinion one of the most accurate depictions of Greece ever put on film along with masterpieces by Angelopoulos and Damianos).
It critisises the patriarchy of Greek family and certain dated customs, the inequality between the lower and higher class, the blindfolded dependence on the Orthodox church, the dictatorship etc. With a brilliant cast, Papatakis masterfully directs this controversial film.
With brilliant staging and blocking, a masterful black and white cinematography and a perfect pacing, Thanos and Despina is a blessing for the eyes as well. The film may be disguised as a poor-rich romance (keep in…
-
this was kind of a random impulse watch because my mom wanted to watch a greek film so we literally searched “greek” on criterion channel and just chose the most interesting looking movie and WOW. very fitting to watch on Good Friday because it’s an Easter movie but that’s almost besides the point. i can’t really say that this is unexpected of a Greek film from 1967 because the coup was kind of the big thing going on (see also Z) but that doesn’t necessarily mean you HAVE to make a movie that violently swerves from Sirk to Buñuel. great performances from both actors playing the titular characters.
i would say to watch it this Sunday but you’re better off saving it for Orthodox Greek Easter (the REAL one) on the 16th.
-
tonight it’s Holy Saturday in greece, just like in the film. i’m an atheist but I picked this film anyways for its’ value since I’m not going to church as it’s common to do tonight.
all the matters that Papatakis chooses to depict are a bit toned down in our era, but they have not vanished completely (for example, the culture of matchmaking does not exist anymore, except in some small villages where it may still be a thing). society is rotten and there’s a nihilistic approach throughout the film, which makes it really dark and real. I feel like it was really ahead of its’ time and I adored the shots and the whole cinematography in general. definitely an important milestone in the history of greek cinema, which everyone should watch at least once -
A biting critique of Greek society, every facet of it. Absurd, funny, chaotic, tragic. Once you get hold of this — the bitterness, the tragedy come across so effectively while also being funny. Really good stuff.
-
Ο Παπατάκης σκηνοθετεί μια ελληνική τραγωδία σαν να επρόκειτο για γκροτέσκα φάρσα, αποκαλύπτει τις παθογένειες της (όχι και τόσο μακρινής) ελληνικής ιστορίας με ύφος που παραπέμπει σε πρώιμο Πολάνσκι και το ευρύτερο πολωνικό σινεμά της εποχής, ρεμιξάρει ένα βουκολικό μελόδραμα μετατρέποντάς σε ένα απρόσμενο "Bonnie και Clyde" και επιτίθεται στις αισθήσεις και τις συμβάσεις της εποχής τολμώντας να πει και να δείξει όσα όλοι έβλεπαν μπροστά τους αλλά ειδικά καλλιτεχνικά δεν σκέφτονταν καν να μελετήσουν. Προκλητικά ετερόκλιτο μέσα στην ιδιοφυΐα του, γνήσια πολύτιμο μέσα στην εικαστική ιδιομορφία του.
-
-
A brilliant social satire; wholly unique in its entirety, bold in how it fearlessly goes against all ideals of its time and place (no wonder this got instantly banned). Its denouncement of religious systems, false morals, conservative hypocrisy, dowries, capitalism and classism is hilarious as it is effective and hard-hitting; prophetic also, once you realize the Greek junta established itself later the same year of the film’s release. Gorgeously shot with immaculate frames, brilliantly acted, ingeniously written and directed almost perfectly. One of the greatest greek films ever made, easy to see the influence this had on Lanthimos.
-
Revered by modern Greek filmmakers such as Lanthimos, Nikos Papatakis’ second feature Thanos and Despina (or The Shepherds of Calamity which sets a more holistic picture of the film and appropriately so) hurls the audience into a chaotic, class divided village in rural Greece. Basic plot description would have you believe this is a forbidden love story but the exploding sheep stomachs, mad ravings of almost every character, religious and secular traditions, talk about curses, and the abusive relationship that unwinds make this a very special movie.
It’s already clear after two films why Criterion names Papatakis as the “Agent of Chaos”. His characters love to burst out in a frenzied laughter and shout all their lines but his direction…
-
I already want to rewatch this. I'm sure the subtler criticisms of Greek society were lost on me, but it isn't hard to recognize this as the scorching indictment that it is.
-
تشريح تبعات الطبقية المُجتمعية في اليونان على الأفراد والمساكين، السينما اليونانية لها حالة تفرّدية خاصة من بدايتها.
-
Thanos and Despina has stuck with me since last September when I first watched it. It manages to be both the funniest and tragic film I’ve experienced to date. Becoming my second 5-star with Autumn Sonata no longer being in my top 4, Papatakis’ allegory is compulsory watching and not only for Greek cinema.
I think when I first saw it, I was misled to believe it was a conventional love story which it's very far from. This expectation can definitely detach or throw people off as it did me at first. Thanos and Despina plays out almost like a fable which becomes a batshit crazy Romeo and Juliet dynamic that synonymously critiques the Greek government and its degree of…
-
