Plot: 3 teenagers led by the "leading" forth one decide to rob a wealthy man. They get caught and end up in a corrupt prison for minors.
You'll love Fylakes Anilikon if: You like realistic, dark Prison-dramas that don't actually choose sides and have a bit of comedic value too. The Greek cult cinema of the 80's is notorious for showing the negative sides of Greece, (and society in general), as they are and not how more mainstream movies want us to think. This movie succeeds in doing so and like I've said without actually choosing sides. Even the 4 teenagers who are a lot better than the hooligans in the streets or the corrupted prison wardens are criminals after all and the movie doesn't force you to see them as the "good guys". Fylakes Anilikon focuses on the problems of the prison but also show us the problems of a society with economic problems, where money and violence is power, it shows us the parents indifference or bad behavior towards their children, the corruption of the wardens, (exceptionally great acting from Tsahiridis as the "God"), the homosexual I-will-break-you-because-I-need-you chief warden and of course the typical corrupt Prison's head honcho, (Artemis Matsas of course!).
You'll hate Fylakes Anilikon if: You don't like the direction. 80's cult cinema even in its greatest hits always had a problem with bad acting, ridiculous montage, direction or cinematography. Fylakes Anilkon doesn't really have any of these problems but it does have the typical, very slow pacing of the era, taking a long time to get to the point. Finally if you expect something else from what the movie offers you'll be disappointed. This ain't no fairytale, there is no truly happy ending, things don't fix, they get worse
FINAL VERDICT: Good, Realistic Prison-Drama (7.4/10)
[+] Shows multiple sides of a corrupted society. Great performances. A little bit of decent comedy thrown in.
[-] Slow paced
Also Check: Apo Tin Akri Tis Polis (1998) – Panikos Sta Sholeia (1981) – Ta Tsakalia (1981) –Trainspotting (1996) - Xich Lo (1995)
P.S.: My purpose in all my IMDb Reviews is not to say "I like\don't like this movie" but to help you decide whether YOU will like it or not since everything is all about taste and expectations IMO...
