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@CineTv.blog asked us about our favourite book to screen adaptation.
Before anything else, I must be honest. There are many books that have been sucessfully adapted either in cinemas of in Tv series. But there is always this one thing that troubles me ans keep saying as a mantra the whole time I am watching such a film: "It wasn't like that in the book..."
(Psss! Don't get me started about LOTR or Harry Potter or many other book-themed films)
So, I chose one that I think was the best adpatation to the book (a faithful rendering of the book)
Please, welcome...
Zorba the Greek (1964)
Some of you might not know that the film, the famous syrtaki film, was based in a book and specifically from Nikos Kazantzakis "The Life And Times Of Alexis Zorba" that was published in 1946.
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The greek edition depicts on the cover Georgios Zorbas, the real hero of the story, while Alexis Zorbas was a fictional portrayal of the hero.
Basil, a Greek-British intellectual, decides to make a visit to his father's homeland, Crete. As he is waiting in a cafe on the port of Piraus to catch the boat to Crete, he meets the man that's about to change his life. Zorbas, Alexis Zorbas, a middle aged man from Macedonia makes his acquaintance and as Basil reveals that his travel is not just a visit, but that he intends to reopen his father's lignite mine, Zorbas persuades Basil to take him along as an experienced worker in mining.
When they arrive at the rural, impoverished village, they stay in the house of an old French former courtesan named Madame Hortense. Zorbas is trying to persuade Basil to have a closer encounter with Madame, but the overconservative intellectual refuses so Zorba seizes the opportunity and they form a relationship.
Their tries to make the old mine work aren't successful, so Zorba has another idea: to exploit the forest, owned by the nearby monastery, for logging. In order to persuade the monks, Zorba gets them drunk and when he gets home to Basil, drunk himself too, dances like a maniac, while Basil is mesmerized by the strength and the gist of the man.
Zorba, after taken money from Basil, goes to "Chania" to buy all the necessary stuff for their logging enterprise, but falls in love with a young dancer, spending all the money. He sends a letter to Basil, admitting his fault and Basil decides to "revenge" him, by telling Madame Hortanse that Zorbas wants to marry her. Meanwhile, Basil left alone in the village, is feeling attracted by a young window woman. The window is teased by the folks in the village for not remmarying, while a young man, totally infatuated by her is constantly after her.
The human passions are starting to boil and the fling between Basil and the window sets the move for a series of events. Τhe young man commits suicide, as he feels hurt by the widow who chose Βasil over him.His father, who is taking revenge for his lost child by killing the widow. Madame Hortense who is eager to finally be restored and marry Zorba, but sadly dies of pneumonia. The failure of the lumber business and the end of Basil's partnership with Zorba.
But this isn't the end for these two. They have formed a friendship, a relationship that is bigger than life.
As Zorbas says:
Boss, I have never loved a man more than you.
as they dance in the seaside.
Zorbas the Greek is not a film that narrates just a story. It is a journey into the human soul, the friendship, the love for life, just as in Kazantzakis book, a well known student of the human nature.
Zorbas is an untamed beast, who, although he follows the rules, does it in his own way. Zorba loves his santoor, the musical instrument he plays and gives his soul through it. Zorba brings out his emotions in dance. Zorba is merciful and just, Zorba is the universal man, who with his faults and merits lives life to the fullest.
Basil on the other hand is an intellectual, overconservative, over-thinking. He is afraid to live, keeps himself in his book. Zorbas comes in his life like a storm and destroys all the walls that Basil has built around him. It is characteristic that they dance after the financial disaster of the lumber enterprise.
The film was recorded more than sixty years ago in the Cretan village of Kritsa. When someone hears the title of the movie or the music, instictly think that the film is the trademark of the Greek race.
And what better ambassador could we find from the hero of Kazantzakis' book, Zorbas, that represents us with the sirtaki and the music, the good heart and vanity, imagination and passionate revenge, the blue of the Aegean and the jet-black of mourning, make up a colourful canvas on which are painted all those elements that characterize our country.
Zorba's dream was, is and will be the mirror of what the Greek can offer to this futile world. To destroy everything at once, thanks to his arrogant perseverance, and at the same time to dance while enjoying his feat...
The cast of the movie was international. Zorba was played by the great, bigger than life, Anthony Quinn, Basil by the british Alan Bates that depicted perfectly the intellectual, Lila Kedrova as Madame Hortense, he old madam who still believes in her dream to find a companion (Lila Kedrova won an Academy award for best supporting role for this part)
Walter Lassally, also won an academy award for cinematography. In fact, he had gifted the Oscar award to the owner of the taverna in the village where the film was shot.
But most importantly, what the film is famous for, is the music of Mikis Theodorakis. The syrtaki dance that conquered the whole world.
Hope to answer your challenge, @CineTv.blog!
#cinetv #cine
Thanks for reading!!!