Acclaimed filmmaker Renos Haralambidis reflected on the power of cinema in the first day of his Sydney visit, highlighting its ability to document history and communicate personal and human stories in a way that cannot be replicated in other formats.
Haralambidis’ Sydney visit kicked off on Friday evening with a special screening event of his 2000 film ‘Cheap Smokes’ at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta which was followed by a Q&A led by Themi Kallos.
The filmmaker, who was in Melbourne on Thursday for a similar event on his newest film ‘Athens Midnight Radio’, said that he has already made some key observations in his short time in Australia.
“What has impressed me is the extent to which the language hasn’t been lost,” Haralambidis told Neos Kosmos.
Renos Haralambidis was greeted warmly by the numerous in attendance, who all expressed their appreciation to him at the end of the event. Photo: Dimitri Kallos
“I have travelled to many parts of the world but consider that Greek Australians have been the best at maintaining the language.”
He was also impressed by his visit to the Greek Community building on Lonsdale Street.
“Also, in Melbourne, I was impressed with the exact copy of the Parthenon with the marbles at the Greek Community because I know how hard this is to achieve – there is a copy in Athens as well,” he said.
During the Q&A, the filmmaker remarked how ‘Cheap Smokes’ reflects a different Greece that is unrecognisable in various ways compared to how it is now.
The director also gave his thoughts about the powerful role films serve in not only expressing one’s creativity but also documenting a place’s history.
Renos Haralambidis with Themi Kallos (left), the facilitator of the Q&A session. Photo: Dimitri Kallos
“Cinema ought to trap the senses of a period (epoch),” Haralambidis said.
He emphasised that is for that reason he prefers to shoot in external locations instead of in studios.
“When cinema is shot on location it catches the present, which can be lost. A present which you don’t build yourself, but which already exists,” he told Neos Kosmos.
Renos Haralambidis talking to Neos Kosmos
“Cinema also ought to capture ‘λαογραφία’ (folklore) which is important because it is a way of life. Language is just language whereas films must be folkloric, that is show what people are like.”
Haralambidis is one of the chief protagonists of the 30th Greek Film Festival, with a retrospective having been organised in Sydney to pay tribute to his filmography.
In line with the retrospective, four of his films have been included as part of the Festival program which are “No Budget Story”, “4 Black Suits”, “Cheap Smokes” and “Athens Midnight Radio” (also the closing film of the Festival in Sydney).
