Stelios (2024)
Director: Yorgos Tsemberopoulos
Starring: Xristos Mastoras, Klelia Renesi, Asimenia Voulioti, Agoritsa Oikonomou
Primary genre: Biographical
Secondary genre: Drama
Dealing with Greece’s most famous folk singer, “Stelios” (or “Υπάρχω” in Greek), is a highly fictionalized tale of its central subject’s life story, one filled with dubious creative decisions, shades of the melodramatic flair and occasionally one dimensional characterizations. Nevertheless, director Yorgos Tsemberopoulos (“Backdoor“ (2000)) has managed to assemble together a concrete Greek production, worthy of international release due to its (finally) strong production values, craftmanship and exquisite cinematogropahy (courtesy of Giannis Drakoularakos) that gives the shots the necessary Mediterranean authenticity. Bypassing the historical and personal inaccuracies of Katazantzidis’s life, one will find plenty to admire in this tale of artistic passion, failed romances and creative thinking in a time period where music was defining people’s livelihoods.
Greece, like so many countries which were swept away by the devastation of World War II and the Nazi occupation, saw a rise in folk-pop songs from low socioeconomic status individuals. Kazantzindis himself already a refugee from the Greek-Turkish war and a victim of right wing brutality in the mid 40s infused his heart and soul into his art, appealing to the masses by not performing in sold out venues but in taverns (yes, really). The film makes use of this traditional Greek culture endeavor, emphasizing the importance of delivering in a live audience Laika (aka songs of the people) pieces. None was best than Kazantzidis himself due to his thunderous vocals and his unique skill of combining feelings of sorrow and joy.
Despite Stelios’ story being a remarkable Odyssey yet the script treats several key events unable to explore their impact to the his psyche. A clunky prologue bypasses significant life changing developments hastily; Tsemberopoulos does not clearly articulate the timeline between them and using the same protagonist for the age period of 18 to 50+ muddles the things further. As such, we are left desiring details required to understand what make this cinematic Stelios tick. Played stoically by an excellent Xristos Mastoras, we only experience superficial descriptions of potential motivations but these are not enough to connect with Greece’s number one singer of the people, his life approach and philosophy remaining unclear such as continue living among ordinary people.
“I exist and as long as you exist, I will exist”
At moments, it feels like Tsemberopoulos and screenwriter Katerina Bei are conceiving a fan-fiction tribute for Kazantzidis’ listeners and not for others who could discover the beauty of his singing through an approachable and meticulously put production of an unknown to the rest of the world, Greek Icon. The movie tries to cram too many real and most unnecessarily fictional aspects in an already fulfilling story (e.g., his battle against record companies, his third marriage is never mentioned but his wife Vasso pops out of nowhere) in desperate need of a bit more of panache and trimming. This notion extends in the supporting roles too, particularly the women who stood by Kazantzidis’ side. While the actresses are all great and believable, their purposes is to worship Stelios and whatever ambiguous goal he has in life as opposed to being fully fledged characters. The device of using a journalist to talk a now recluse Stelios and get his flashback narration is an interesting one but his actions never challenge himself - he is there simply to record these events, extend graciously the running length and for the director to get some gorgeous opening shots.
Be that as it may, Mastoras excels by playing the guitar and performing wholeheartedly the singer’s vast catalogue (reminding Val Kilmer’s mesmerizing performance as Jim Morrison in “The Doors” (1991)) which should rightfully (and hopefully) attract some accolade attention. The sound design is well done too; those who grew up with Stelios’ music might feel an overwhelming emotion of nostalgia due to the accurate and authentic representation of an era that barely lingers in modern memory across the companionship of 25+ of his hits. Employing real sets, spot on costume design this biography is a time capsule of a period and Tsemberopoulos has an obvious and vivid passion for this national folk hero and it shows: from steadycam to pull out shots, he accentuates the beautiful environment which was Greece in the 60s, putting Stelios in front and center. It is a shame then this ambitious biopic does not conduct a deep psychological dive preferring to lean towards a safe compilation in the life and morality of one of the most famous Greek performers.
Ambitious but safe musical biography
+Great reconstruction of 60s Greece
+Cinematography
+Sound design
+Slick direction
+Laiko soundtrack
+Mastoras is great
-…but role is limitedly explored
-Superficial supporting roles
-Emotionless key events