STRATOS/ THE STORM WITHIN/ TO MIKRO SPIRA

Greece, 2014, 137 minutes, Colour.
Vangelis Mourikis.
Directed by Yannis Economidis.

As the film opens, we see a man hiding and being provided with food by someone from a village. He returns to his hiding place and then we see a nondescript man sitting there – who then shoots the man. He is Stratos.

Stratos works as a baker by day but takes on a number of hit contracts, his contact being an anonymous man called The Painter. During the film we see a number of these hits. But then, the motivation becomes clearer as Stratos wants to raise money to free from prison Leonidas, who had saved his life previously. However, he is betrayed by the wife of the prisoner and his close friend to whom he gives the money.

This embitters Stratos who continues his work but moves towards vengeance on those who betray him. He has a kindly touch for the young daughter of a friend whom he takes for a special meal, along with his disabled contact. They enjoy themselves – and then he takes them into a tunnel where he kills them as well.

What is left? We see The Painter getting some young men, obviously setting up a contract for the killing of Stratos – which happens as he sits alone on the bench. While the beauty of the Greek countryside and mountains is apparent, this is, indeed, a pessimistic film.

1. The title, the focus on Stratos himself, as a hitman, the organisations behind him, the lists for people to be killed, the motivations of the organisers, of Stratos? His ambitions?

2. A Greek film, the portrait of Greece and the countryside, the roads, the villages, the mountains, homes, the bakery, restaurants, clubs? Sense of realism? The musical score and the echoes of Greek music?

3. The opening, the men hiding, collecting the food, returning, the surprise at seeing Stratos, his violently killing the man? Shifting the attention of the audience?

4. Stratos in himself, his look, age, his shooting, the meetings with the Painter, the payments, going to Yorgos, and the issue of Leonidas and his freedom? Yet his kind streak, looking after the little girl, her mother? And his work at the bakery?

5. The various visualising of his hits, the scenes, in front of houses, in offices, his wounding the arrogant man and shooting his ear?

6. Yorgos, his relationship with him, the meetings, Leonidas and his wife, the argument? Yorgos weeping, yet the betrayal? And Stratos killing them?

7. The cripple friend, discussions with him, advice? The Painter, his character, the meetings, giving the lists? The payments?

8. The revelation that Leonidas had been killed? The effect on Stratos?

9. The cumulative effect of watching Stratos, the money, taking the woman and the crippled friend for the meal, the dancing? Going into the tunnel? His killing them?

10. What was left? The Painter and his arranging for the killing of Stratos? Stratos sitting on the bench and his dying, resigned to this?

11. The pessimism in the tone of the film, – even its being nihilistic?