Theo Angelopoulos
Greek filmmaker known for long takes and political cinema.
His films are characterized by long takes, complex compositions, and a hypnotic, sweeping style.
- died
- 24 January 2012, Athens, Greece
- field
- Filmmaker, screenwriter, film producer
- nationality
- Greek
- known_for
- Long takes, political films about modern Greece, Palme d'Or for Eternity and a Day
Lore & Background
His father Spyros hailed from Ampeliona, Messenia. He studied law at the University of Athens, then went to Paris to attend the Sorbonne, but soon dropped out to study film at the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques (IDHEC) before returning to Greece, where he worked as a journalist and film critic. Recurring themes include immigration, flight from homeland and return, and the history of 20th century Greece.
Reader's Guide
Theo Angelopoulos is significant for his distinctive cinematic method, often described as 'sweeping' and 'hypnotic,' characterized by slight movement and distance changes, long takes, and complex, carefully composed scenes. He received honorary doctorates from several universities. His legacy endures through his films, which are shown at major festivals worldwide.
Did You Know?
- Angelopoulos' father was taken hostage during the Greek Civil War and returned when the director was 9 years old.
- The Travelling Players consists of only 80 shots in about four hours of film.
- He died in 2012 after being hit by a motorcycle while shooting his latest film, The Other Sea, in Athens.
- He was awarded honorary doctorates by universities in Belgium, France, the UK, and Greece.
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