Notias is a Greek foreign language film and a coming of age story of Stavros, a young boy living in Greece during military junta rule in the 1970's.
The film follows Stavros as a young boy through to young adulthood years highlighting his dying love and passion for film.
Notias tells a unique story of self-discovery during a very uncertain period in Greek history.
While most importantly touching on many topics including love, independence, depression, family and politics in a changing Greece.
Synopsis
Like many Greeks, Stavros' family is very traditional and very much "by the book". His parents are very over protective and comically overreact whenever he has any issues.
As a boy he develops a knack of altering stories, mistelling ancient Greek myths and skewing his own reality.
He grows up around dancing, film and art and eventually develops aspirations of making his own film retelling Greek myths.
During his young adulthood years, we see Stavros develop as his own person as he aimsto make his own path.
He falls is love, follows his passions and dreams of making a miraculous life-defining trip around South America.
Important Themes
All in all Notias is film that is very different from your typical coming of age story.
It tells a story of a vulnerable time in Greek history through photography and film. During this time, period Greece was under significant political change as the changing country did not have an identity.
Notias also illustrates just how much Greek mythology and legend is entwined in their modern culture and education. Many to this day hold the myths and heroism of ancient times with so much importance and relevance.
By turning the myths of their heads, Notias allowed for something very intriguing to happen. It put more of a focus on the future of Greece rather than on it's past.
Much like the main character Stavros, the country should focus on writing their own story and changing for the better, rather than focusing on the past.
The real success of Notias is my opinion is the juxtaposition between Stavros' identity issues and rewriting his own story just like how Greece was attempting to do the same under the military junta.
Conclusion
Altogether Notias is a charming film telling of an interesting time in Greek history.
It describes the changing Greek environment through the lives their changing youth. Creating a contrast between how we tell stories, from ancient Greek tales which have been passed down verbally through generations and to modern times where we tell our stories through picture and film.
This change between mediums is comparable to how many see traditional and modern differences.
Some people love to cling to what they feel is comfortable and others love to embrace change.
Notias explores this difference by entangling themes of tradition, modernity and nostalgia.
In my opinion Notias is quite a charming, funny and smart film full of metaphor. Well deserving of a watch.
