"The Wastrel" (1961) film of Michael Cacoyannis

“The Wastrel” (1961) film of Michael Cacoyannis

Michael Cacoyannis Foundation presents again,
a three-day screening for the film “The Wastrel”
directed by Michael Cacoyannis with Ellie Lambeti in the leading role.
After the absolutely successful (sold out) premier of the archive film restored copy in Greece, in the early May, and due to the audience demand for a repetition of the screenings, the film is going to be screened afresh on Friday the 21st, Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd of May 2010, in the Cinema Hall of the MCF Cultural Center.

Preservation as well as diffusion of its founder work are main fundamental aims for Michael Cacoyannis Foundation. According to this framework, aiming to complete the archive with the films created by M. Cacoyannis as well as introduce to Greek audience the entire filmography of the Director, MCF located, restored and presented for the first time in Greece the film “The Wastrel” (Il Relitto).

Plot

A middle-aged and as rich as Croesus American wrecks while sailing on his yacht somewhere in Caribbean Sea. There, waiting for savors to come, a flashback to his previous life takes place in his mind and especially his affair with his ex-wife.

Competition
Cannes Festival Choice

“The Wastrel” in script and direction by Michael Cacoyannis was filmed in 1961 and it is an illustrative example of co-production within Greece and Italy. The director, apart from the choice of Italy, as the set-landscape, furthermore, cooperated Souso Ceci D’Amico and an international cast, among whom we distinguish Ellie Lambeti and Italian Aldo Fabrici.

After its premier, the movie used to be screened rarely, mainly in various retrospective festivals dedicated to the Cypriot director, but never was presented in Greece. Among the dedicated festivals stands out the spectacular retrospective festival by the Bologna Film Commission – Cineteca Bologna, in 1998, which in fact introduced the film again to audiences, and was the occasion taken by the M. C. Foundation, to discover and locate the film. However, the film copy was already in bad condition.

Michael Cacoyannis Foundation owes many thanks at first to Cineteca Bologna that led it to the discovery of a film, which was considered lost by the majority of the cinema people, and which is illustrative example of the cinematic affairs between Greece and Italy during the decade of 60’s. The film restoring was adventurous. Originally from the National Cinema Commission of Italy and Cinecita, to Cristaldi Film company and the technical laboratory LVR, the foundation managed to get the film in digital beta high quality form, and with pleasure to present nowadays the movie completely restored as far as its picture as well its sound are concerned.

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