Plato's Academy (2009)
Directed by Filippos Tsitos
Duration: 103 mins
Stavros, a Greek shopkeeper cares for his aging mother after a stroke. Pity that his worst fears slowly are realized: he might be Albanian instead of Greek! Feeding these fears are his mother's lapses into Albanian language, the disconcerting appearance of an Albanian brother of whom he was unaware, and his neighbor's dog who only barks at Albanians. Stavros and his "brother" gradually reach a tenuous rapprochement even as his Greek neighbors begin to shun him. The old lady's funeral offers opportunities for conflict and resolution in Stavros' tight-knit enclave even as the community rapidly changes around them.
About the Director
Born in Greece, Filippos Tsitos is based since 1991 between Berlin and Athens. He studied business administration in Athens and film directing in Berlin. He worked as a photographer, director's assistant, music supervisor and as radio music-producer. His first feature Home Sweet Home was selected for the 2001 Berlinale (Official Competition). Unfair world (2011) won Best Director and Best Male Actor prizes at San Sebastian IFF. Since 2000 he has directed 3 feature films, around 70 TV-movies for the German television and several TV-commercials.
Awards
- Second Best Film Award for SECOND BEST FILM at the Spirit of Fire-Russia
- Silver Leopard Award for BEST ACTOR at the Locarno Film Festival
- Jury Award for BEST FILM OF THE FESTIVAL at the Tirana International Film Festival
- Hellenic Film Academy Award for BEST ACTOR at the Hellenic Film Academy Awards
- Orpheus Award for BEST FILM at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival
- Best Script Award for BEST SCRIPT at the Film Festival du cinema d'auteur de Rabat
- Best Music Award for BEST MUSIC at the Max Ophüls Preis Film Festival
Sunday, March 16, 2025
3:00 p.m.