Hard Goodbyes: My Father (Dyskoloi apohairetismoi: O babas mou)

Somewhere in Athens

May 1969

This is the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation...

In the name of the Father and of the Son,

Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth...

Who art everywhere present and fillest all things...

Treasury of good gifts and Giver of Life...

come and abide in us.

MY FATHER

a film by Penny Panayotopoulou

Wake up! Wake up!

Dad's back! Dad's back!

Wake up! Wake up! Dad's back!

Cut it out.

Leave me alone. I'm sleepy.

Why d'you keep them and don't eat them?

I don't want to!

-We'll get cockroaches. -You mind your own business!

It's my room.

Now it's mine too!

Only for a little while.

You're my guest until we move to a larger house.

That's what Mom said.

When? When Dad's business picks up?

-Does the balloon rise? -No!

I hear a noise like the dashing of waves.

The sea is below us!

Your poor Mom is below you!

Overboard with every weight! Everything!

Cyrus is in the sea! Let us save him! Let us save him!

What are you looking at me for? Do something!

I don't want any milk.

It was right in front of you.

I hate the smell of burnt milk!

-Relax. It's no big deal. -Then wipe it yourself!

Leave it.

You can't even put up with me for a few days a month?

Our eldest boy gets more hostile every time I see him.

Come on, Dad. Let's go.

They miss you.

How about you?

Do you miss me?

Hey! Right foot first!

Why should I always get in right foot first?

It's not like it's the first time?

I told you it's for good luck.

This is Dad's store. It's not just a car.

It's a tool.

Where would you like to be now?

You go first!

-Why me? -Because you're older.

-I'm in a small seaside town. -On a trip?

No, we've got a lovely wooden cottage on the beach...

and we live there all together.

-Mom too? -Mom too.

-And godfather? -And godfather.

We're not leaving him alone. I also have a small store.

What kind of store?

One that sells things. Various nice things...

Curious things you can't find anywhere else.

-TV sets too? -TV sets too.

When you lock up the store for the day d'you go straight home?

I don't think so. I think I'll go for a ride in the boat.

Did I tell you? We also have a wonderful boat.

-What's it called? -Elias!

-Not Elias! -Why not?

Let's call it Apollo like the spaceships.

Now it's your turn.

Where are you?

There was only one man who would not admit...

that the situation was desperate--

he alone had confidence;

Jules Verne

and that was their devoted friend J.T. Maston.

He never let them get out of his sight.

As soon as the moon rose above the horizon he immediately...

caught her in the field of the telescope and watched...

with untiring patience the passage of the projective...

across her silvery disc, and really the worthy man...

remained in perpetual communication...

with his three friends...

whom he did not despair of seeing again some day.

"Those are clever men," said he,

you will see that, some day, they will come out all right."

In a while men may walk up there.

Was it true what the books wrote?

Yes. Didn't the same thing happen with submarines?

The mind travels faster than actions.

You'd never go without me, would you?

I might go first to see what it's like...

but then I'd send for you.

Will you promise me we'll go together one day?

-You won't be scared? -Only girls are scared.

When did you start smoking?

You wouldn't even look at a cigarette.

Since it's become the only thing that keeps me company.

Dad! Dad! Don't go!

Dad! Wait!

Wait! I'm coming with you!

Dad! Don't go away again. I'm coming with you!

Can't you hear me? I'm coming with you.

Dad! Don't go away again!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,

11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

Are you leaving again for work?

Not yet.

So how come you're shaving?

I never leave the house without shaving.

I like you better when you have a beard.

It itches.

-Are you going to kiss someone? -You.

How about Mom?

-You did it. -I didn't mean to.

The wind blows...

and a dark moon rests on the hill.

Where are you, my love, I want to take you in my arms..

-Your first shave. -Will you teach me too?

-When you grow up? -When I get my first job?

When your time comes.

Our footpath has been overgrown with weeds...

The empty nights I long for you...

my lost young lad.

Michalis!

How are you, Michalis?

It's not Michalis, mother. It's Christos.

How are you, Christos? How are your kids?

Here's one of them... the youngest.

Your good-for-nothing wife never brings them to see me.

It's difficult now with school.

What school? When did they grow up?

Michalis' kids are the babies, mother. Mine go to school.

I'm Christos, not Michalis, mother.

I know you're Christos.

-He lets me starve to death. -Who?

Your brother.

All day without food.

I can't believe Theodosius would do something like that.

He loves you. He's always talking to me about you.

He's lying.

I haven't eaten in three days.

He wants to kill me off.

His wife wants to kill me off.

I'm a burden to her.

Theodosius isn't married, mother.

You two are alone. He has you to look after.

He's been divorced for years.

He still listens to her.

They talk on the phone secretly.

They think I'm deaf but I can hear everything.

Why don't you take me to your home? You're all I've got.

My dear mother, I haven't forgotten you.

I just arrived in Naupactus on the ferry.

I'm having coffee in a coffee house under the walls...

and leaving for Arta right away.

Now I have my own car life has become easier.

Business will pick up. I'm sure of it.

Kiss Theodosiuss for me and don't forget your medication.

Your son Christos

I'm frequently away...

and the house is small.

Throw her out.

-Who? -Your wife.

She doesn't love you.

I always said your wife didn't love you. Remember?

Let's go, Dad. Mom will be worried.

Why d'you say such things, mother?

I know. I'm your mother.

Come on! Let's go, Dad. Mom will be worried.

You've never tasted such food.

We're not staying, Theodosius. We'll eat at home.

Isn't this your home too?

Aren't we your family?

Why don't you eat, Mom?

She does that all the time and when I'm not looking...

she devours it secretly. Don't worry. It's a game of hers.

She hides her food under her bed! I saw it, Godfather!

Have you been poking into other people's things again?

You'll get cockroaches!

Something must have happened.

Nothing's happened. Eat!

They probably had dinner with his folks. And you know it.

Don't be so mad, son. It's not right. He is your father.

-Eat! -I'm not hungry!

Come on, just a bite to keep me company.

Shall I heat it up?

It doesn't matter.

It upsets me to see you working so hard with no results.

I could open my own store with all the money they owe me!

That's what our late father did... gave everybody credit...

and we lost all we had.

I don't remember us lacking anything.

You've got to be kidding! You don't remember.

I raised you. You were younger. On my salary.

I could have brought you into the company too...

but you were too hare-brained.

Hush now, Theodosius.

It's not his brain that's to blame. It's his wife.

Not the same again, Mom!

Why d'you write Grandma postcards...

since when she sees us she never knows it's us?