The Travelling Players

The Travelling Players (O thiasos), 1975

Greece | 35mm, Color, 230’ | Greek
Director: Theodoros Angelopoulos

In this epic film, recognized as one of the major masterpieces of world cinema, Greek director Angelopoulos, who passed away in 2012, reflects the literally tragic disintegration of the national spirit. The film, which takes place between 1939 and 1952, during and following the civil war, presents a journey woven by tableaux, monologues, slogans written on walls, songs, and characters who drift back and forth in time. For Angelopoulos, The Travelling Playersis also the beginning of his coming to terms with a Greek history which has been covered up and neglected. Nearly four hours long, the film consists of 131 shots and draws attention with its original and complex structure. It tells the story of a theater troupe travelling through rural Greece and attempting to perform the folk play “Golpho, the Shepherdess,” but never getting to finish it. Wherever they go the troupe members are only able to perform a certain part of the play because it is constantly interrupted by historical events. The war against fascist Italy, the German invasion, the dictatorship of Metaxas, and the turmoil of the civil war are all told through this troupe. And through the journey on which it takes its audience, the film reconstructs the period’s history and culture and connects social fate with mythical allegory. Angelopoulos summarizes his film as follows: “Greek people have grown up caressing dead stones. I’v