Maria Iliou – Athens and the Great Idea: A historical documentary and a photographic exhibition at the Benaki Museum
The director, screenwriter and editor Maria Iliou and the historian Alexander Kitroev, after the documentary “ATHENS FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST, 1821-1896” which was presented at the Benaki Museum of Greek Culture, in 2020, and after many years of research in America, Europe and Australia, bring back to the public, images of Athens (photos and videos), forgotten in “closed” archives.
The importance of this historical documentary and exhibition lies both in the fact that they present unknown images of Athens and in the fact that the two collaborators offer a new narrative of how Athens and the Athenians experienced five wars in a span of twenty-five years but also how they experienced the National Divide.
Specialist scientists from Greece, Europe and America talk about the History of the city of Athens, while testimonies, such as those of Despina Geroulanou and Philippos Mazarakis Ainian, unfold personal stories.
The documentary also features: Roderick Beaton, Alexandros Kitroef, Marina Lambrakis Plaka, Jim Wright, Nikos Vatopoulos, Christina Koulouri, Sir Michael Llewellyn Smith, Kathleen Fleming, Lampros Liavas, Artemis Skoubourdi.
DON’T MISS OUT!
The photos and videos come from her archives Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration- Washington DC, University Harvard, Princeton University, Getty, Boston Public Library, Sydney University, Stockholm Public Library, Pathe, Gaumont, Établissement de Communication et de Production Audiovisuelle de la Défense (ECPAD), Médiathèque du patrimoine et de la photographie, Paris, the Historical Archives and Photographic Archives of the Benaki Museum, the archives of the National and Historical Museum, the archives of ELIAS, the collection of Nikos Politis and many other private collections.
For the soundtrack of the film, the editor Alice Panagi used period sounds to bring the history of the city to life, while the musician Nikos Platyrachoshe drew on music and songs from Athens and hits of the time to compose the original score for the documentary.
Photo Buddy Squires, sound by John Zecca, Marc Mandler, mixed by Thymios Koliokousis. Produced by Proteus & Proteus NY Inc.
Editing, script, direction: Maria Iliou
Historical consultant: Alexander Kitroeff
The documentary and the report “ATHENA AND THE GREAT IDEA, 1896-1922» it is the second project of a total of five projects on the history of modern Athens that will follow in the coming years.
Program of screenings for the general public
Every MONDAY (EXCEPT 27/02/2023 – Clean Monday and 17/4 Easter Monday): 10.00- 11:30, 12:00 – 13:30, 14:00 – 15:30
Every WEDNESDAY: 10:00-11:30, 12:00 – 13:30, 14:00 – 15:30
Every THURSDAY: 10.00 – 11.30, 12.00 – 13.30, 14.00 – 15.30, 17.00 – 18.30, 19.00 – 20.30, 21.00 – 22.30
Every FRIDAY (14/04/2023 – M. Friday: unique screening 14:00-15:30): 10:00-11:30, 12:00 – 13:30, 14:00 – 15:30
Every SATURDAY (EXCEPT Saturday 25/3 due to National Anniversary and M. Saturday 15/4 the first two screenings apply): 10.00- 11:30, 12:00 – 13:30, 14:00 – 15:30
Every SUNDAY (EXCEPT 16/04/2023 – Easter Sunday due to public holiday): 10.00- 11:30, 12:00 – 13:30, 14:00 – 15:30.
Screenings for School groups (up to 35 children) from Monday 6 February 2023
Every MONDAY and WEDNESDAY, 10.00-11.30
Reservations: Monday to Friday 10:00 – 14:00, T 210 3671067
Screenings for Audience Groups (up to 35 people) from Thursday 2 February 2023
Every THURSDAY, 17:00 – 18:30 and every SUNDAY 10:00 – 11:30
(EXCEPT Sunday 23/04/2023)
Reservations: Wednesday to Saturday 11:00 – 16:00, T 6936753971
Topic photo: Separation at Zappeion, 1912 © Benaki Museum / Photographic Archives