Peppermint
An episodic coming-of-age story with a potentially interesting plot development that never quite comes to fruition, "Peppermint" is the Greek entry for the foreign-film Oscar sweepstakes and a competent first feature from writer-director Costas Kapakas. But it's unlikely to get a nomination or much exposure stateside beyond festivals.
At age 45, Stefanos (Georges Corraface) has a career in aerospace, but he seems a bit lost and lonely when he drives off one day to an old friend's party. As he makes the trip, he remembers his youthful days in the 1960s, particularly the love for his first cousin (Markella Pappa), whom he first developed a crush on at age 11. The title refers to one afternoon adventure in which the youngsters down a few glasses of liquor in secret. Surrounded by relatives, their attraction to each other doesn't go unnoticed forever.
But the illicit-love angle, while teasing one into expecting serious complications and consequences, is mostly secondary to breezy episodes involving busty algebra teachers, vacations at the seashore and other routine moments typical of such a nostalgic format. At one point, the young Stefanos (Giorgos Gerontidakis-Sempetadelis) has an erotic encounter with a seductive, young woman in a hotel washroom, but the details of the scene, like much of the film, is left to one's imagination.
Kapakas certainly has a knack with actors, both young and old. However, the flashback structure is not very rewarding, particularly when the film finally gets down to business and we learn that Stefanos and Marina had at least one serious make-out session as teenagers but didn't go all the way. This happened at a party of the same friend that the older Stefanos is on his way to visit -- the friend who also loved Marina.
Ironically, the film's best moments occur near the end as Stefanos is suddenly faced with the death of his mother (Annie Loulou), but what happens to the lead and Marina after that is anybody's guess because the film abruptly ends with their reunion seen in long shots.
PEPPERMINT
Greek Film Centre
Kappa Films, Cinegram SA
Director-screenwriter: Costas Kapakas
Director of photography: Yannis Daskalothanassis
Production designers: Giorgos Georgiou, Alexandra Horianopoulou
Editor: Takis Yannopoulos
Costume designer: Maria Kontodima
Music: Panagiotis Kalatzopoulos
Color/stereo
Cast:
Stefanos, age 11: Giorgos Gerontidakis-Sempetadelis
Stefanos, age 45: Georges Corraface
Marina: Markella Pappa
Stefanos' mother: Annie Loulou
Stefanos' father: Alexandros Mylonas
Running time -- 105 minutes
No MPAA rating...
At age 45, Stefanos (Georges Corraface) has a career in aerospace, but he seems a bit lost and lonely when he drives off one day to an old friend's party. As he makes the trip, he remembers his youthful days in the 1960s, particularly the love for his first cousin (Markella Pappa), whom he first developed a crush on at age 11. The title refers to one afternoon adventure in which the youngsters down a few glasses of liquor in secret. Surrounded by relatives, their attraction to each other doesn't go unnoticed forever.
But the illicit-love angle, while teasing one into expecting serious complications and consequences, is mostly secondary to breezy episodes involving busty algebra teachers, vacations at the seashore and other routine moments typical of such a nostalgic format. At one point, the young Stefanos (Giorgos Gerontidakis-Sempetadelis) has an erotic encounter with a seductive, young woman in a hotel washroom, but the details of the scene, like much of the film, is left to one's imagination.
Kapakas certainly has a knack with actors, both young and old. However, the flashback structure is not very rewarding, particularly when the film finally gets down to business and we learn that Stefanos and Marina had at least one serious make-out session as teenagers but didn't go all the way. This happened at a party of the same friend that the older Stefanos is on his way to visit -- the friend who also loved Marina.
Ironically, the film's best moments occur near the end as Stefanos is suddenly faced with the death of his mother (Annie Loulou), but what happens to the lead and Marina after that is anybody's guess because the film abruptly ends with their reunion seen in long shots.
PEPPERMINT
Greek Film Centre
Kappa Films, Cinegram SA
Director-screenwriter: Costas Kapakas
Director of photography: Yannis Daskalothanassis
Production designers: Giorgos Georgiou, Alexandra Horianopoulou
Editor: Takis Yannopoulos
Costume designer: Maria Kontodima
Music: Panagiotis Kalatzopoulos
Color/stereo
Cast:
Stefanos, age 11: Giorgos Gerontidakis-Sempetadelis
Stefanos, age 45: Georges Corraface
Marina: Markella Pappa
Stefanos' mother: Annie Loulou
Stefanos' father: Alexandros Mylonas
Running time -- 105 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/18/2001
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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