LILY'S STORY

Greece, 2002, 130 minutes, Colour.
Bruno Putzulu, Juliette Andrea, Yorgo Voyagis, Anna Galiena.
Directed by Roviros Manthoulis.

Lily's Story is a Greek film on the film industry. It works on three levels, focusing on a story in present-day Greece and then moving back into the memories of the central characters. The location photography is quite striking and extends from Greece through the Balkans to Italy. The star of the film is Italian actress Anna Galiena who brings a dignity and strength to the film.

1. A film about film-making, the different levels at which it worked: Greece and the contemporary setting, moving back to the period of the war, to the period of the Colonels? A film of memories?

2. The location photography, the beauty of Athens, Paris, Trieste, Slovenia? The musical score?

3. The framework: the film-maker, in bed, telling his story? The story of production, difficulties? The story of Lily, the story of the Colonels and the arrest? Telling Dmitri stories? His own life, wife and family, tensions? His partners in movie-making?

4. Greece, the war, the portrait of people, the presentation of society, class and divisions? The coup and the Colonels? The reality of imprisonment, dictatorship? The visual of Lily's story, the party, the arrest, the ride? And the photography of the street and the map? The real Lily and her comment?

5. Dmitri and the train, passport, the obtuse guard, the tunnel? Paola and the television? Not telling, returning? The chess game in the baths?

6. Georges and the discussion about the screenplay, the work, memories? Jules and the dialogue? The American producer? ABC pulling out? The deal in Romania, Ceauscau and his forbidding deal?

7. The search for the cameraman, Tito and the operators, ingenuity? The hotels and the returned call?

8. The visit to the restaurant, the blind musician, the enjoyment, buying the pipe for the museum? The blackout?

9. The issues of film and film-making, portrait of people, a glimpse at Greek history?