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Overrated

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

In truth, any opportunity to see the film on the big screen is welcome.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I'm well aware that the word "powerful" has been used to describe "Eleni" innumerable times...yet it seems the closest word to describe the indescribable. Based on a true story and historical events (namely the civil war in Greece), the film captures a family's struggle in the harsh realities of war, communism and inhumanity...at the hands of people who are the closest to us. Eleni not only delves into the lives of Greek peasants, but attempts to give us a glimpse into their personal background and even mindset as to why they let certain events unfold. Certain actions and decisions that normal, rational people born outside of Greek culture would think impossible or inhumane begin to make sense, and while most viewers will never agree to what is happening, they can at least sympathize. This well-written story is spectacularly filmed (in Spain) and with an incredible musical score-- Eleni is one of the most underrated films of its genre, on par with Dr Zhivago. Unfortunately, the character of Nick is played by John Malcovich...who is grievously miscast for this role (in hindsight it may have been solely to get at least a known Hollywood name attached to the project) and his monotone, lifeless style comes off as neither Greek nor appropriate for such an emotional story-- Linda Hunt, by contrast is amazing. Eleni should absolutely be in the repertoire of any film enthusiast.

Whitewashing the victors of the Greek Civil War (Nazi collaborators, monarchists and all those traitors) is a direct insult to the Greek Resistance (primarily, but not only, Communists) who saved the Greek People from famine during occupation and shed their blood in the fight against the Germans and their local lackeys. While members of Nazi collaborating "security battalions" who were taking an oath to Hitler, not only went unpunished but were also reinstated and rearmed to fight against the Resistance the real heroes, the members of EAM-ELAS who bled to free the country were imprisoned, tortured and facing execution squads by the British-led monarcho- fascists. Really cheap propaganda. Total garbage, might as well have been financed by the CIA. Too bad I can't give 0 stars.

An excellent film, especially for history buffs. I suggest that anyone who has seen this film should also read the book. As a former leftist, this movie hits home regarding the lies and distortions that communists use to perpetuate their evil and inhuman ideology. As an American of Greek descent, I am familiar with many of the traditions and customs shown in the film. The village life shown caused me to recall stories that my mother told me, and the closeness of the family in Greek culture shown by the protagonist's relentless search for his mother's killers is another accurate portrayal. The starvation and suffering of poor Greeks during WWII made them easy prey for communist ideology, which, thank God, did not succeed in 1945-1949, and thanks to works like this film, will never succeed.

Other people commenting on this film complain about its being mere propaganda against communism and supporting fascism. What a lot of baloney. It's about mothers and children, and about how, no matter what kind of brawl is going on, the men run to the hills, leaving the women and children behind to be brutalized. And it's about how one woman lost her life because she refused to give her children up to the state, no matter who that state was.