The Last Note

I rarely give 10/10 to any movie, but this one really captivated me. I should mention first of all my special interest for Greece, its culture, history, language and everything, so it touched me more than any movie about WWII. The actors had performed very well, especially Andreas Konstantinou. The time was also reflected well. Watch it and see how Greece lived the Nazi occupation.

Based on true facts, The Last Note is a moving account of the execution of two hundred Crete prisoners during World War II at the hands of German occupiers. Much of the movie is devoted to the sometimes strained relationship between the concentration camp Commandant and his Crete translator/interpreter. The movie examines that relationship both from the perspective of the Commandant and from the perspective of the interpreter. Divided loyalties exist on both sides of that relationship; in the end those conflicts are resolved the only way that it could be - through passive and active opposition, not reconciliation. The deliberate pace of the movie is essential to the impact of the movie. The courage and fortitude of the patriots, and how that courage is portrayed in this movie, will stay with you days after having seen this movie.

I really liked the first part of this film. It informed me about the occupation of Greece during WWII, something I knew little about prior to this. I especially enjoyed the way the German captors were portrayed. Some scenes were a little unnerving and I only assume they were based on historical sources. The reason I didn't give this film a higher rating? The last part of it was too melodramatic and drawn out for too long. It was just too obvious what was going to happen by that point. Other than shortening I'm not sure how else the ending could be improved & can't give a better score as it is.

Based on true events, this film takes place in 1943 during the German occupation of Greece and follows a group of resistance fighters who are captured and faced with a grim fate. The movie beautifully weaves together themes of sacrifice, courage, and the human spirit during desperate times. The performances are raw and heartfelt, especially by Andreas Konstantinou, who brings depth and nuance to his role. The emotional weight is palpable, and I found myself really invested in the characters' fates. The cinematography captures the haunting beauty of the Greek landscape, contrasting sharply with the darkness of the story. One of the standout elements for me was the film's ability to blend hope with despair, leaving viewers with a sense of unresolved tension. It's not an easy watch, but it definitely sticks with you and sparks important conversations about freedom and resistance. If you're looking for a heartfelt drama that respects history while telling a compelling story, The Last Note is definitely worth checking out! Just be prepared to have your heartstrings pulled.

Pantelis Voulgaris is a Greek director renowned for the aesthetic quality of his movies as well as his preoccupation with modern Greek history. It did not come to me as a surprise therefore, that I enjoyed the film so much. The historic facts were there, the story was good, the actors were well cast and played beautifully, photography was good as with all his films, but I really was pleasantly surprised by the details of the filming itself. This film stroke me as one that paid real attention to detail, very much unlike other Greek films. The sound was really good (an issue with older modern Greek movies) and all effects used were really well thought out and balanced.

The story itself is moving, (maybe less so if you are not Greek). Communists imprisoned by the fascist friendly Metaxas regime, are not released when the war breaks to fight at the front, and instead, the German occupation finds them behind bars. The killing of a Nazi general by the resistance, causes a huge retaliation of the Nazis against the Greeks.