A Tribute to World War II

ERTFLIX International commemorates the anniversary of October 28, 1940, by showcasing films, series, documentaries, and historical programs from ERT’s archive. This special tribute offers rich content about the dark period of World War II, which left a profound mark on history.

GREEK CINEMA

“Betrayal “| War Drama, Greece 1964

Lieutenant Karl von Stein serves in Greece as an officer of the German occupation forces’ propaganda. He lives in the requisitioned house of Professor Victor Kastriotis, where he meets Lisa, a young woman who appears to be the professor’s niece but is actually of Jewish descent. The two fall in love and plan to marry, until Karl discovers the truth…

Screenplay: Kostas Manousakis, Aris Alexandrou
Director: Kostas Manousakis
Starring: Petros Fyssoun, Manos Katrakis, Dimitris Myrat, Elli Fotiou, Zorz Sari, Dimitris Nikolaidis, and others.

“Hands Up Hitler” | Drama, Greece, 1962

Two old friends, Panagis and Anestis, meet by chance after many years and reminisce about the difficult times of the occupation when they lived together. They relive their struggle for survival, the constant fear of the Germans, and the dangerous game with Resistance groups.

Director: Roviros Manthoulis
Screenplay: Dionysis Milas
Starring: Thanasis Veggos, Vasilis Diamantopoulos, Mirka Kalatzopoulou, Spyros Kalogirou, and others.

“A Hero in Slippers” | Comedy, Greece 1958

A film adaptation of the comedy play by Alekos Sakellarios and Christos Giannakopoulos.

Retired General Lambros Dekavallas lives modestly but honorably with his wife, Irene, and daughter, Popi. He is visited by his future son-in-law, who announces his plans to emigrate to Australia to earn money and marry Popi. That same day, his cousin Apostolos informs him that the country plans to honor him by erecting his statue in the small square in front of his house.

Starring: Vasilis Logothetidis, Ilia Livykou, Byron Pallis, Nitsa Tsaganea
Screenplay/Direction: Alekos Sakellarios

“The Last Prisoner” | Drama, Greece 1970

Dinos, the sole survivor of a group of saboteurs who were eliminated by the Germans after betrayal, finds refuge in the home of a disabled woman. She hides him in the basement but falls in love with him and keeps him imprisoned without telling him that the war is over.

Screenplay/Direction: Angelos Georgiadis
Starring: Alekos Alexandrakis, Pery Poravou, Nasos Kedrakas, Frosso Kokkola, Periklis Christoforidis, and others.

FICTION SERIES

“Crucial Moments” | Drama ,directed by Manousos Manousakis [With English subtitles]

This adaptation of Galatia Kazantzakis’ novella, “Critical Moments,” stars Tania Trypi and Akis Sakellariou, featuring an outstanding cast. The series is set during the heart of the German occupation, a turbulent period that indelibly marked an entire generation. The life of a bourgeois couple, Dimitris and Dora Kaligeris, changes dramatically.

Starring: Akis Sakellariou, Tania Trypi, Nefeli Kouri, Nikos Gkelia, Michalis Markatis, Evi Sofroniadou, Michael Seibel, Nektarios Farmakis, Sotiris Antoniou, Lefteris Loukadis, and others.
Screenplay adaptation by Stavros Avdoulos, Eirini Ritsoni.

“Invalids and Wayfarers” |Period drama, directed by Christos Paligiannopoulos

A TV adaptation of Georgios Theotokas’ novel. The series focuses on the controversial life of a prominent interwar actress, Theano Galati (based on actress Eleni Papadaki), torn between her passion for an SS officer and her love for a Greek Resistance fighter.

Screenplay: Yiannis Tziotis
Starring: Karyofyllia Karabeti, Aris Lempesopoulos, Stelios Mainas, Dimosthenis Papadopoulos, Gerasimos Skiadaresis, Theodora Tzimou, Ersi Malikenzou, Aliki Alexandraki, Ieroklis Michailidis, and others.

DOCUMENTARIES

 “If We Survive, We Will Have Stories to Tell” | Documentary, directed by Kostas Machairas

A documentary based on the “Diary Notebooks” of Giorgos Theotokas. The film attempts to recreate the period from the declaration of World War II until the German invasion of Athens.  Theotokas’ text serves as an excellent guide, as it is not a retrospective account but was written simultaneously with the unfolding events. The notes in the Notebooks, combined with invaluable visual material, vividly capture the pulse of the era, the human emotions, the significant moments, and the small, everyday experiences of the war.

Script and Direction: Kostas Machairas

“Meetings with My Mother, Lela Karagianni” | Documentary, directed by Vassilis Loules  [with English subtitles]

Moments from the actions and personality of Lela Karagianni, the legendary “Bouboulina” of the Resistance, through the tender, personal perspective of her son, Giorgos. Wanted during the German Occupation, the young man would secretly meet his mother, Lela, for the needs of the struggle. Yet, even under those difficult circumstances, he still had the chance to experience the tenderness and affection of the heroine, who never stopped being a mother.

Illegal film footage brings rare images from Occupied Athens, while Giorgos’s fragmented memories still hold something of “Violetta di Parma,” Lela Karagianni’s favorite perfume.

Script and Direction: Vassilis Loules

PROGRAMS FROM THE ERT ARCHIVE

“Music Night: ‘Songs of the 1940s’ “| Music program, 1976 (ERT Remembers)

A music show with Giorgos Papastefanou,  focusing on the music and artistic life of Athens during the Italian invasion and the German occupation.

Curation and presentation: Giorgos Papastefanou  Direction: Daphne Tzaferi

“Monday Theater: The Germans Are Back “| Comedy, Greece 1977 (ERT Remembers)

The comedy critiques the stance of the great powers toward Greece. A peaceful family man dreams that after the occupation, the Germans return to Greece and repeat the atrocities of the past that everyone had forgotten.

The performance is introduced by Alekos Sakellarios, who provides the context and core of the play.

Starring: Yiannis Michalopoulos, Vasilis Tsivilikas, Vina Asiki, Lefteris Eleftheriadis, Orfeas Zachos, Dimitris Kallivokas, and others.