r-fronimides

In Greece, especially the last 4 decades, very few scripters and directors are dealing with historical events.

And when some they do, usually are young scripters & directors, with minimum knowledge, experience etc. That's what happen here in this tv series, "Famagusta". Although the scripter & director are Cypriots (and many other actors/actresses), they are VERY young (about 30-35 years old), they didn't live themselves the events but also didn't hired a good historian to give them advices...

Also, the main story is based in modern times (21st century). We're following and watching the lives of a Cypriot family, what's happening in their lives (in present time) and because the elders (grand-father, mom & dad) lived the horrible events of the Greco-Turkish war in 1974... we have "SOME" flashbacks and some scenes from the past (of 1974).

The main no-warfare scenes from 1974, are quite good portrayed. They found cars or buses from that era, they found clothing from that period ('70s), there are a lot buildings in Cyprus from that period, etc.

What this tv series totally FAILED, were the battle scenes! Very amateur and sloppiness approach... They simply found some uniforms "looks like Greek" or "looks like Turkish", they found some old weapons and they started shooting the war scenes.

I mean, they didn't even ASKED a 70 years old veteran from that war, to tell them HOW EXACTLY were dressed, what kind (exactly) weapons they've used, etc.

So... I didn't see any Cypriot with "khaki" uniform (short pants too) - all were wearing US "dark green" (only Greeks & Turks worn those uniforms), both (Greeks/Cypriots & Turks) were using the SAME type of weapons (Cypriots used old WWI & WWII British weapons, Greeks used WWII American weapons, Turks used the Belgian FN modern rifles), all worn a dozen different types of helmet (whatever the production found!), the Turkish uniforms were just US "dark green" with fictional insignia/patches on them (not historical accurate), etc.

Also, the battle scenes were amateur - they didn't even study a specific rifle how was operating. I saw "soldiers" using an US "M1" and they were keep pulling back and forth the rifle's shutter, like it was a one-shot weapon (M1 had a 8-bullet magazine)...

And generally... because the production didn't have much money to spend... the scenes from the past (1974) were SO FEW in each episode - the 2/3 of the episodes were in modern time...

So... good effort... but not so good result.

The History of the Greeks has been recorded around 5,000 BC. From then until today, the Greeks have written golden pages in world history, since they are one of the two most ancient civilizations of Humanity...

While there are many films (Greek and foreign) about various periods of Greek History, there are not many about one of the most important moments of the modern Greek nation - the "Struggle of the Nation" (as Greeks calling it), the Greek Revolution of 1821 to regain their freedom from Ottoman (Turkish) slavery that lasted about 4 centuries!

And these few films that exist about the Revolution of 1821, most of them are "graphic", exaggerated, with "theatrical" screenplay, with a huge dose of patriotism and minimal realism.

This movie is modern (it was filmed in 2023) and along with two other modern movies ("Siege" and "Exodus") is one of the few Greek movies that attempt to realistically portray the period of the Greek Revolution (1821-1831).

This particular film here presents the life, the fight and finally the martyr end of one of the protagonists of the Greek Revolution. It is about ATHANASIOS GRAMMATIKOS (who became known as "Diakos"). Athanasios Diakos was a very handsome young man, kind, modest and humble, who at a young age was sent by his father to be educated in a monastery.

There, due to his great skills, the priests eventually ordained him as "Diakos" - it is an initial level before someone officially becomes a priest.

So, this movie is about his early life, his fight against the Ottomans and eventually his martyr end, a horrible end...

Now... The movie...

Is not a great production. I mean, don't expect to see large scale battles, a lot stand men, special effects, etc.

Was made by a small Movies Production company, mostly by amateur volunteers, but with lot love about the project, with a lot respect.

The director is a Greek priest!

Before he became priest (as common citizen) he studied other things and he was involved to theatrical and cinema projects. Also, since he's a priest (and ATHANASIOS DIAKOS also was priest), there is a huge love to respect and honor Diakos' story - and legacy.

The result is good.

Of course, you can understand there isn't a major production, not so many actors, not CGI effects, but the result is good.

What I didn't like (also in "Siege" & "Exodus" movies), is that the actors are speaking too "modern Greek" language (like we do in our moder times, daily). I would like to hear "old Greek"; it's difficult, I know, to make modern young actors force themselves to speak "different" as they know, but I think if they were speaking "old Greek" it would be a greater result.

Also, the hairstyle of most of the actors.

Of course, the main character actor who's playing "Diakos", obviously he has a long hair style, as the original hero had.

But most of the other actors they have "modern hair style" (or beards), you can see that.

Generally is a fine result.

If a small Movie Production company (full of amateur volunteers!) can create something like that... I don't understand why LARGE MAJOR Movie Production companies are not creating such movies - about Greek History, with REALISM, not "fantasy" movies like "300"!

I'm suggesting this movie!

The problem is... it's VERY RARE to find it, to watch it...