higherall7 Found this film when videotapes could still be rented out of the Main Library. Now it's DVDs you can rent all week for nearly nothing but a late fee. What intrigued me was that here was a film that boasted an experience that paralleled some aspects of the African American experience. Greeks singing their own version of the Blues! What a concept!Thoroughly enjoyed this film and how it moved so seamlessly to me through the historical upheavals of 20th Century Greek Culture. More than looking for points of correspondence between Greek and African American cultures, I felt like I took a step forward in understanding the angst and pathos and finally tragic underpinnings of the Greek way of life. From the first frame, you can feel the overcrowding in the cities and the destitute conditions that are being experienced simply viewing the desolate aspect of a cafe where there are more people singing on the stage than can be found in the apathetic audience. Later, there is the unforgettable scene where the female lead sings one of the most stirring blues songs i have ever heard. Aretha Franklin has nothing to worry about, but the haunting tenor of 'Kaigomai-Kaigomai' sung to a packed house of rapt, sober individuals and couples will stay with me for the rest of my life.Director Costas Ferris exercises a sophisticated eye in composing compelling montages and yet it all seems to me to serve to exorcise the immemorial Greek Spirit at the end which often to outside observers seems to express the belief that it is fated for tragedy. The skillful exposition of a music of outcasts that seems to make tolerable and at times reach above and beyond the spiritual and material impoverishment of these urban Greeks is done with a unique 'elan by Stavros Xarhakos. Sotiria Leonardou comes across at times as a Greek Garbo, absorbing to look at and to listen to as she moves through the episodes of her character's life.The ensemble of characters have an easygoing, natural relationship with each other. They are at once like people I have known in my neighborhood and at the same time exotic and unlike any people I have known. This is one of those films that definitely rewards repeated viewing and invites a person to make a serious study of the Greek people in ancient and modern times.

aman-gabi Beautiful film and the music was very moving. This is a great film for people who want to delve deeper in to Greek culture. The many actresses that played Marika were very well chosen. Hats off to Ferris who wrote such a story. The scenery in the film really helped give an idea about the slums. I wish the subtitles were a bit better because I noticed there was more going on and not enough being translated. It is amazing how the blues genre of the world is the same in soul but different in sound. I would have loved a bit more history on Asia minor. The music at the lemon market is my favourite in the beginning. This story is not about the famous Greek singer although a lot of similarities do exist but amazing movie nonetheless.

h-kalivas The history underpinning this Film is the one that makes this film really unique. It is very hard for this film to be translated and make it understandable by the majority of people that can't speak Greek and may not feel the story. The story begins around 1920 in the coastal area of (now days)Turkey. Between the war most of the Greeks owned this area, however most of them were killed (not as soldiers but as unarmed people)and all the others were sent to Greece were they had to start their life from zero. The passion and the lyrics of the music as well is what makes this film one of the best in Greece. Rempetiko is this kind of music that was carried in main Greece by them.

Boer Poel I was very pleased to find 'Rembetiko' on DVD after so many years! Back then, it only was on for a short time at my local cinema/art-house (Rotterdam, Holland)/ right after, I was *very* impressed and checked for another view, but it was the very last one performance, alas. Since then, this movie became some sort of a myth in my memory. After seeing the film after almost 25 years it feels very different... (now I'm older I know more in what way Greece also suffered during WWII/ and their drama is still not very well known in Europe, they kept the horror more quiet, IMO). So this knowledge was an extra for me in 2007.Therefore I disagree with the former poster "dionysianartist", the emphasis on the Nazi-period gives the movie a wonderful twist. Perhaps this way, it also returns the feeling to the true blues of 1920's Rembetica.My DVD came with these subtitles; *Greek *English *French *Spanish *Italian *German *Turkish (No further extra's).Check it out; great film, with much of the Greek sphere and feelings involved.John.