''Evdokia'' ( el, Ευδοκία) is one of the most important works of

Greek cinema The cinema of Greece has a long and rich history. Though hampered at times by war or political instability, the Greek film industry dominates the domestic market and has experienced international success. Characteristics of Greek cinema include ...

. It is a drama of passion whose main characters are a sergeant and a prostitute (Evdokia) who get married after a brief passionate affair. Very soon, however, the influence of their environment strains their relationship, and the man tries to break away, but without success. The pair is surrounded by harsh light, rock, bare landscapes and military exercises, on the one hand, and sensuality and constrictions, on the other. Because of her occupation, Evdokia both attracts and repels the sergeant. The petit bourgeois environment, the lumpen elements, the social fringes and petty interests stifle the young couple: they apparently want to rebel, but never succeed. With everything moving among violent sensuality, cruelty, coarseness, and total austerity, this "prosaic" story assumes the dimensions of an ancient

tragedy Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...

. The inner struggle of the protagonists, the conflict of desires and values, the straightforward narration, vigorous pace, immediacy and sound construction constitute one of the most important works of the Greek cinema. In Greece, the film is mostly known for the popular

Zeibekiko Zeibekiko ( el, Ζεϊμπέκικο, ) is a Greek folk dance. Origin and history It takes its name from the Zeybeks, an irregular militia living in the Aegean Region of the Ottoman Empire from late 17th to early 20th centuries. It was fir ...

instrumental piece "

Zeibekiko of Evdokia ''Evdokia'' ( el, Ευδοκία) is one of the most important works of Greek cinema. It is a drama of passion whose main characters are a sergeant and a prostitute (Evdokia) who get married after a brief passionate affair. Very soon, however, th ...

", written by

Manos Loizos Manos may refer to: Films * ''The Hands'' (Spanish: ''Las manos''), a 2006 Argentinean-Italian film * '' Manos: The Hands of Fate'', 1966 horror film Music * Manos (band), German Black metal band * ''Manos'' (album), by The Spinanes Other use ...

. In 1986, ''Evdokia'' was voted by the

Greek Film Critics Association The Greek Film Critics Association or Pan-Hellenic Film Critics Association (PEKK) ( el, Πανελλήνια Ένωση Κριτικών Κινηματογράφου, ΠΕΚΚ) was founded in 1976. The first members included the Greek film critics ...

as the best Greek film of all time.

Cast

Maria Vassiliou Maria Vassiliou ( el, Μαρία Βασιλείου), also known as Maro Vassiliou (Μάρω Βασιλείου) or Mari Vassiliou (Μαρί Βασιλείου), was a Cypriot actress. Biography Born on 16 September 1950, she became an amateur a ...

..... ''Evdokia'' *Giorgos Koutouzis ..... ''Giorgos Paschos'' *

Koula Agagiotou Koula Agagiotou ( el, Κούλα Αγαγιώτου; 1915 – 25 October 2006) was a Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch o ...

..... ''Maria Koutroubi'' *Christos Zorbas ..... ''Giorgos''

References

Alexis Damianos: The Lyricism of Violence

External links

* 1971 films 1971 drama films Films set in Greece Films shot in Athens 1970s Greek-language films Greek drama films {{Greece-film-stub