DIGGER

Greece, 2020, 104 minutes, Colour.

Vangelis Mourikis, Argyris Pandazaras, Sofia Kokkali.

Directed by Giorgis Grigorakis.

This drama about her father and son is set in the forests of northern Greece. There is very attractive photography of the mountain scenery, the forests. But, it is also a story of progress, development, the clearing of forests, scenes of many falling trees, roads being built, mines and industry being set up.

And, this has an effect on the central character, Nikitas, who lives on his farm, selling produce to friends who run a stall, involved in protests against the developers. He has lived by himself, his wife abandoning him 20 years earlier, taking their young son. The film focuses on his simple way of life, caring for himself, the chickens, the horse on the farm.

Suddenly, his son arrives, telling him that his wife is dead and that she has left half the property to her son. He is a mechanic, skilled at motorcycle racing which he indulges in in the town. The father does not want to speak to the son, but, gradually, they have to communicate, the issues of the will, the son having a debt on his house, wanting money to pay it off. In the meantime, he learns to use the elaborate digging equipment on the developments.

He meets a young woman working in the bar and they develop a friendship, her being able to speak the truth to him.

Ultimately, there is potential tragedy, the father caught in quicksand, the son trying to get him out with branches and logs but failing, then getting the equipment to haul his father out – bringing about some kind of reconciliation (although we have seen the father with his friends in the town trying to work out an equitable settlement because of the will), and a stance against the developers.

1. The title, the land, the soil, trees and fruit and nuts, the hard life, digging in the soil? In the visuals of this throughout the film, and the finale and the quicksand?
2. The beautiful photography of nature, northern Greece, the mountains, forests? The contrast with the developments, uprooting the trees, roads, mining? The musical score?
3. Nikitas’ story, the initial rain, the landslide, the effect on him, danger, his fruit and nuts, going to the store, the conversations, into the town, the anger at the developers, planned demonstrations? His way of life, his age? The background to his life, his wife, leaving him, his son, his wife taking the boy, 20 years, his phone calls to the family but not speaking?
4. Life in this area of Greece, traditions, developments, the clashes, destruction of the forests, development of roads, mines, heavy equipment – and later being seen in use, Johnny becoming a driver, and the use of the equipment in the finale?
5. Johnny, his arrival, the bike, initially misdirected, meeting his father, nonrecognition, realisations? Nikita and his not speaking to his son, packing the utility, the produce? Eventually speaking, Johnny and his skill with the bike, the races and demonstrations, the young men in the town? Nikita complaining about the noise disturbing the horses, the chickens? Their gradually talking, the meals together, reliving the past, some happy memories, singing? The reality of the will, Nikita not knowing of the death of his wife, her conditions, 50-50, Johnny and his plans, the debt on his house, wanting the money, sales?
6. Johnny in the town, the encounter with Mary, the conversations, her influence? The young men, the bikes, the games of pool, siding with the developers? Johnny and his joining them, learning how to manipulate the equipment?
7. Nikita, the daily routines, the hens, the horse, the noise and the hens not playing? The confrontations with Johnny? The discussions with the men at the store, later meeting them, the issue of the Will, the finances, their plan?
8. The buildup to the climax, the rains, Nikita and his antagonism, Johnny and his attitude towards his father, the episode in the quicksand, Johnny with the branches and logs to help his father, the father almost submerging, Johnny getting the equipment, saving him?
9. The credibility of the reconciliation, happy ending, the future?