The Photograph (Η φωτογραφία)

IKONES and the GREEK FILM CENTER present

THE PHOTOGRAPH

Starring CHRISTOS TSANGAS and ARIS RETSOS

ZOZO ZARPA DESPINA TOMAZANI

CHRISTOS VALAVANIDIS MARINA DELIVORIA

YANNIS TOTSIKAS

STRATOS PACHIS ORESTE TSANAKIS

GIORGOS KALATSIS METAXIA DELIOU

KOSTAS MARKOPOULOS

Image ARIS STRAVOU ARNAUD DESPLECHIN

Music CHRISTODOULOS HALARIS

Lyrics YANNIS KAKOULIDIS

Song performed by ELIA FILIPPOU

Background and costume NICO MELETOPOULOS

Editor DELPHINE DESFONS

Sound editing ALEXIS PEZAS

Production managers FARID CHAOUCHE

NIKOS GIANNOPOULOS GIORGOS SAMIOTIS

Executive producer PATRICK GRANDPERRET

Screenplay and direction NICO PAPATAKIS

Castoria, September 1971

- I've finished. - Do the other shoe again.

As you wish, Mr. Costa.

I'm Soula Apostolou's son. I came to see Mr. Doukas.

Who's she?

A piece-worker for your boss.

- Did she send you? - Yes.

There's no work.

It's not about work.

He's not here. Wait outside if you like.

Elias? I know your mother.

Your mother told me you finished the army.

I don't know you. I came to see Mr. Doukas.

I know you have to be careful

after your army ordeal.

I'm glad you managed to get a passport.

It's best you leave.

Why do you want Doukas?

I want Gerasimos Jivas' address in Paris.

- Why? - To find work there.

But he's inhospitable.

He's my mother's only relative.

I forgot.

They say he's made money there.

He sends some to his parents every month.

Soon Doukas will go

to the bank for it.

Do you know him?

Yes.

Regards to your mother.

If the boss doesn't give you Jivas' address,

go to the Bonne-Nouvelle train station,

all the furriers are there.

They'll tell you.

Remember Bonne-Nouvelle!

It means "good news".

Mr. Doukas! One moment, please!

I'd like to know Gerasimos Jivas' address in Paris.

I'm going there to look for work.

You're the only person he trusts...

Please give me an introductory letter to him.

Are you joking? He's illiterate.

You scum, with your communist father!

Your mother would have starved without me!

Wife of a communist!

We're not communists here! We're capitalists!

Tell her that Gerasimos is in America.

But you're going to the bank to withdraw his money.

On your way!

Write no more lies

Make a fool of me no more

What a great and heavy burden

How sad!

My name is Joy...

The singer's photo was taken 20 years ago!

How sad!

My name is Joy...

What are you doing there?

What are you staring at?

Doukas told me to go to hell.

He wouldn't help

the son of a communist.

He said that you owed him everything...

and that Gerasimos has gone to America.

But he was on his way to the bank to withdraw

Jivas' monthly remittance.

Harilaos told me that.

Then it's true.

He abused me

under the sign "Greece for Christians".

It should be "Greece for Tyrants"

If we all become

Christians like Doukas,

it would be better to get out of here fast.

Tomorrow you'll go to Gerasimos' village.

But it's at the end of the earth!

Is Paris closer?

Go and ask his parents for their son's address.

They'll give it to you.

If he's gone to America, you'll go too.

Into the lion's den again?

Didn't I suffer enough in the army?

Better to be in a well-fed lion's den

than in a hungry one's.

It's the same everywhere.

You have no choice.

Do you know where the Jivas family live?

They've been dead for 2 years.

Go on!

This way.

- Your parents? - Yes.

Photos from the cemetery?

They're the graves of Maria and Costas Jivas,

buried in 1968.

Here are the death certificates.

Are they really dead?

They're buried.

Then Doukas is a grave-robber!

Gerasimos doesn't know.

Now I don't need an introductory letter.

I'll find him at Bonne-Nouvelle in Paris.

It means "good news".

You won't be bringing him good news

and that worries me.

I didn't kill them, mother.

I'll tell him Doukas is robbing him.

He'll trust me... I'll save him money.

You've been saving for years so I can go.

I'll pay you back.

I'll return in a Mercedes.

I'll show them who I am.

I'll send you my news through Stella.

You're from Adonis Doukas?

Yes. I just flew in.

Give me your order and go.

I've got important papers.

He knows where to send them. I don't believe you!

He'd go to prison for these.

I have to give them to you personally.

It's about your parents.

Let me in, you won't regret it.

Come in.

Leave your suitcase outside.

Gerasimos Jivas, I'm sorry to announce

the death of your parents in 1968.

Here are the death certificates.

Dirty liar! Thief! Get out of here!

I don't believe you!

I'm going to check this.

If you lied,

you'd better be gone when I return.

Come in.

What's the matter?

Are you sick?

I won't bother you to send money again.

What's your name?

Elias Apostolou. My father was your mother's cousin.

Come in.

Come in!

Leave your case there.

Sit down.

That's my photo.

Yes, take it.

I have no cognac, as is customary for funerals.

My mother sent some.

She knew you wouldn't have the necessities here.

Fate decided

I would bring you bad tidings.

I ask you not to hold it against me.

How could I?

I'm sorry you didn't come before they died...

that I didn't bury them...

with my own hands.

I'll never forgive myself.

I brought you photos

of your foster parents' graves.

You also adopted them... not by choice, but by love.

Love, which parents would wish

from their real children.

Foster parents are like volunteers in the army:

the first to sacrifice and to love.

I deserve no praise.

They gave me more than real parents could give.

Your devotion was that of a big-hearted person,

a heart filled with gratitude for those who loved you.

May they rest in peace. God bless their souls.

Who's the girl in the photo?

My sister.

She's 22 years old and unmarried.

What's her name?

Joy.

I tease her:

"How sad! Your name is Joy."

She sewed your mourning band.

How did you know Adonis was stealing from me?

I saw him go to the bank

to take your parents' money.

In the village I saw their graves.

You didn't come here just for that.

I came to find work.