World Gone Mad

Imagine yourself in Athens nearly 50 years ago, in a peaceful neighborhood where the most important thing is the man's word of honor and everybody's dream is to find a legitimate way to escape of the financial and social misery! Even in our times a "good marriage" is such a way, despite the fact that in many cases people actually don't fit, especially when love is absent! Legendary actor Kostas Hatzihristos is Zikos who works in a local mini market of that time and makes strong social criticism with the best lines ever written for an actor in a comedy leading role! Of course, the central theme of the plot is Zikos' old boss who is trying to "buy" with his money the love of a pretty but poor young girl! Zikos turns everything upside-down and gets for Kostas Hatzichristos a place in the pantheon of the Greek comedian actors! A truly great performance!

Any Greek would rate this movie among the best comedies ever created. World wide. I am sure that if the translation could describe exactly the meanings of each phrase and every word of the dialogs, this would be true for anybody from any country. The main feature of this comedy is its' simplicity. Extreme simplicity to be exact. No special effects, not a lot of money spent, not many actors...just good taste and excellent acting. Zikos is able to transform everyday indifferent situations into laughter without making saucy remarks, or becoming ridiculous. I have only seen this kind of humour in some old Greek and Italian movies, and as far as I am concerned, it remains still ahead of most contemporary comedies.

with dialogue based mostly on Hadjihristos improvisations, this is a hilarious film, about a shop wiseguy worker who pokes his nose on everything, especially when he learn his ugly old boss plans to marry the neighborhood's beauty. A great greek sixties classic, nonstop laughs, although I dont have a clue how a non greek viewer would react.. besides i doubt if it available in any other language.

This is one of the best performances of actors ever seen in the Greek cinema and, having seen thousands of movies from all over the world, definitely one of the best movies worldwide of this era. A proof once more that a great movie does not need anything else than a great idea, a well written script and some performers that can really make it shine. As noted in other comments, the cultural background needed to understand the situations presented as well as the kind of humor used may prevent non-Greeks from enjoying as much this true masterpiece. Great Kostas Hatzichristos's best performance, with excellent support from a famous and well established cast. All in all, a must see for every Greek of any generation (and I am sure 99% have seen it) and every person who appreciates Greek culture and wishes to understand and enjoy it even more.

Probably one of the best Greek movies ever made! The characters seen and developed in the film are so typical Greeks so it is inevitable not to see yourself in one of them, especially if you are a Greek!

The dialogues themselves even though they are very well studied and carefully selected come very naturally and seem very alive. Especially with the magnificent and all time classic acting of Costas Hajihristos and the huge support he gets by all of the other actors in making Zikos (the main character) one of the best characters presented in Greek silver screens. Every single quote, every single word that comes out of Zikos and the way he interacts with the other characters are simply remarkable and unmatched even by the best world famous comedians of our time! A movie that amuses you the first time you see it and then makes you admire it as you see it over and over again and finally you are just amazed by the enormous talent of Hajihristos and the fast paced dialogues! A masterpiece!