Leonard Cohen and "45m2"

[Sophia]

"45m2" is a greek film written and directed by Stratos Tzitzis(2010),exploring the struggle of Greece's "700 euros generation" (well, it's even less now):

A young woman's struggle to overcome life's economic restrictions in order to meet her true will. She is twenty-three and lives with her mother, a compromise she can no longer stand. Despite her meager economic means, only enough to survive the first two months, she moves out and rents a 45m2 apartment of her own. During these two months of freedom, she explores her true self and approaches a more poetic and liberal culture, for her, a new way of life that slowly unfolds as she rummages through the belongings that the former renter, a guy her age, has left in the apartment.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1572962/plotsummary

Among the former renter's belongings that change the young woman's life are Leonard Cohen's cds and Cavafy's poetry.The main music theme of the film is "Famous Blue Raincoat" covered by Vassilikos (included in his album "Vintage").You can have a taste here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY5ShLlyejA


Sophia

[Laura]

That's an interesting story.

Laura

[Andrew (Darby)]

Yes, this is both an interesting story and (of course), with respect to the main character's LC CDs discovery, a great testament to the power of Leonard's music! The stories of the people who just stumble on his music are always fascinating to hear or read about... and I also like the Vassilikos cover of Famous Blue Raincoat.

Luckily for me, I will also be viewing this movie on the big screen next week, at our Greek Film Festival currently happening here in Melbourne.

Cheers,
Andrew

[Laura]

Damn, I've been forever marked by Facebook-I was looking for the "Like" button after reading your post, Andrew. Enjoy the movie, and say hello to the cute cat in it for me!
Laura

[Andrew (Darby)]

Damn, I've been forever marked by Facebook-I was looking for the "Like" button after reading your post, Andrew. Enjoy the movie, and say hello to the cute cat in it for me!
Laura

Thanks and okay, Laura. I'll say hello to the cat and at the same time, if there's a "Like" button on my armrest, I'll press that too!

Cheers,
Andrew

[jarkko]

Sophia, thanks for sharing this new information with us.
The film has now been added to the Filmography at
www.leonardcohenfiles.com/filmo.html

[Goldin]

Sophia, thanks for sharing this new information with us.
The film has now been added to the Filmography at
http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/filmo.html

Jarkko, don't forget to add 4 movies (I reported about them three months ago):
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=27563#p280240

[jarkko]

Thanks for the reminder, Goldin! Your message was posted while I was at our summer cottage and then I somehow forgot to do it! All four movies now included in the long list at
www.leonardcohenfiles.com/filmo.html
(Will also check shortly the new covers you listed in the same thread)

[Stamatina]

Well, I watched this movie today and it wasn't as good as I would have liked it to be.
But I did like it enough!
The main problem is that the whole main idea isn't well given in the movie. I think there should be more music in it and more poetry and more art. Instead, you just hear a song or two (one of which is this really nice cover of Famous Blue Raincoat) and see the same two lines again and again. That was my greatest disappointment.

Other than that, what the movie is about, mostly, is the tough reality young people face when they set to follow their dreams - even when they are as simple as living on their own in a 45m2 apartment. This, of course, isn't just a random story, it's a fact and I imagine many people between the age of 20 and 30 living in modern Greece can empathize, so I suppose the movie does have value for those of us who see ourselves somewhere in there. But if you're not familiar with the state of affairs in Greece and if you haven't walked the same streets the young woman does in the movie, I don't expect it will work for you the same way.

However, if you are still interested, the movie is available for download via torrent (pm me for the link) and I have also found some English subtitles that match.

[Laura]

Stamatina, that's exactly why I was interested in the movie description, I could really relate to it. It's not only in Greece that things are hard.

Laura