The film "A Tale of Two Isles" is a documentary about the untold story of the Enfield 8000 electric car. At the same time, it is an ode to human creativity, as well as to the obstacles and intrigues this runs up against. It is soundly directed, with exceptional photography and music.
Whereas it was my personal scientific interest in cars and car design that drove me to watch the film in the first place, it didn't take me long to appreciate the deeper qualities of Michalis Stavropoulos's work: the careful and in-depth exploration of his subject, the artfully woven plot that captivates the audience, but also the sensitive take on his characters and on human creativity.
Through his exquisite storytelling, the viewers experience the story of the Enfield and the people who created it, as if it was a story of their own - a story of an ingenious people that, next to every one of its feats, it creates - as ingeniously - the obstacles to be found in its way. It is a film which serves as a historic memory to a noteworthy project, and at the same time as a witness for the future viewers to one of the first manifestations of a cool and collected thought born to linger in the aftermath of the crisis. In an admirable way, "A Tale of Two Isles" echoes the Greek sensitivity together with the European positivity.
The director does not resort to easy solutions. On the contrary, he explores his subject in depth and multidimensionally. His approach is one of keeping equal distances from the different viewpoints presented, which leaves the viewers free to form their own opinion. This is in itself a rarity nowadays, and in this respect, the documentary "A Tale of Two Isles" could very well be taught at film academies as an example of best practice and high ethics.
