THE MAN WITH THE ANSWERS
Greece, Cyprus, Italy, 2022, 80 minutes, Colour.
Vasilis Magouliotis, Anton Weil, Stella Fyrogeni.
Directed Stelios Kammitsis.
This is a brief road film, opening in Greece, the ferry to Italy, the car journey up the east coast of Italy, through the mountains, to Bavaria.
The film spends its opening time with a sketch of the central character, Victoras, young man, revealed as a former diving champion, living alone, very keen on exercise, travelling, running, gymnastics, working with upholstery repair on a temporary basis, visiting his grandmother in hospital and her death. He is alienated from his mother who lives in Bavaria, with her German partner and new young son.
The grandson pays for his grandmother’s funeral, decides to pawn his diving medals, to go for a trip to meet his mother, using her old abandoned car. At the ferry, he is approached by Mathias, a German, whom he sees stealing a sandwich from the bar. They talk, Victoras resistant, denying that his travelling by car, only to find that Mathias knew that not to be true.
Eventually, Victoras relents and drives Mathias, still somewhat resistant, urged not to travel on the autostrada but to explore side roads, eventually turning up to an elaborate wedding celebration where Mathias was expected, persuading Victorias to join the dancing, the drinking, and an aftermath with his hangover. As they drive, Mathias asks Victoras questions about his life, Mathias speeding, pulled up, found that his license is valid, then relying on Mathias to drive.
On a bye-road, they pull up and have a swim in the lake. Some suggestions in this episode that the theme of the film is gay. When Mathias shoplifts crisps, Victoras is angry, ousts Mathias, leaving him at the bus stop, but later relating returning, eventually finding him. They stay the night at a hotel, lying together on the bed.
The couple eventually drive to Victoras’ mother’s house, where there is a birthday party for her son Patrick, Victoras angry, but his mother welcoming him. And he meets his younger brother in. Family has a huge dog and in his angry departure, Victoras injures the dog, leading to a reconciliation.
Some of the mountain scenery is breathtaking, especially the highway snaking up the side of a mountain.
And the film leaves there for the audience to speculate on the future and the relationship between the two men.
- The title, Mathias and his questions, his answers? The effect on Victoras?
- A road film, from Greece, the ferry, the Italian coast and mountains, Bavaria? The musical score?
- Victoras, his character, age, diving, medals, exercise, the trampoline, running, gymnastics? Living alone? Visiting his grandmother, flowers, her death? Organising the funeral, the funeral ceremony? The phone calls, his alienation from his mother? Her leaving, erratic, going to Germany, her partner, her new son, Patrick?
- Victoras, testing the gold metals, pawning them, his mother’s car, the decision to visit her, going to the ferry, seeing Mathias take the sandwich, the later encounter, his accusing Mathias of shoplifting? Denying he was in a car? Mathias knowing, meeting him, persuading him to let him come with him? Not on the autostrada, the side roads?
- The two men, suspicions, gradually talking, Mathias questioning Victoras about his life? The byways, the lake and the swim? The marriage ceremony, dancing and drinking, the aftermath, dropping the young woman at her village?
- The speeding, the police, Mathias and the translation, the license not valid, Mathias offering to drive?
- The garage, Mathias stealing the crisps, Victoras upset, throwing them out, stranding Mathias, going back, later finding him, the hotel, the night together, on the bed? Mathias in the car, the momentary fear that he had taken it, coming back with breakfast?
- Continuing to Bavaria, the mountain scenery, the autostrada up the side of the mountain?
- Victoras finding his mother, the party, Helga, Patrick, Victoras angry but it changing with meeting his mother, her welcoming him, explanations? Abruptly leaving, hitting the large dog, going to the that? Returning, reconciliation, the meal?
- And the future for the two men?
