Theo Angelopoulos
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Theo Angelopoulos worked on a variety of projects during his entertainment career. In 1962, he moved to Paris and briefly attended Sorbonne, then IDHEC, and after expulsion worked at Musee de l'Homme under the tutelage of ethnographer/filmmaker Jean Rouch; he later completed a 16mm student film, a thriller, begun at IDHEC. In 1965, he began a semi-documentary about a pop group, "Forminx Story"; the project was abandoned after a dispute with the producer. In 1970, he directed and wrote his first black and white feature film, "Anaparastassi/Reconstruction," which was also his first collaboration with cinematographer George Arvanitis. In 1977, he made his feature producing debut with "The Hunters," which he also wrote and directed. Angelopoulos launched his directing career with dramas such as "Anaparastasis" (1970) with Toula Stathopoulo and Yannis Totsikas, "I Meres tou 36" (1972) starring Thanos Grammenos and the Venghelis Kazan film "I Kinigi" (1977). He also appeared in "O Megalexandros" (1980) with Omero Antonutti. In addition to directing, Angelopoulos appeared on the big screen as an actor in "Jimmy the Tiger" (1966). In the eighties, Angelopoulos devoted his time to various credits, such as "Athens, 1982" (1982), "Enas Melissokomos Petheni - O Alles Mythos" (1986) and "L' Heritage de la chouette" with Cornelius Castoriadis (1989). He also worked on "Taxidi stin Kythera" (1989). In the latter half of his career, Angelopoulos directed the drama "O Melissokomos" (1993) with Marcello Mastroianni, the adventurous drama "Ulysses' Gaze" (1997) with Harvey Keitel and the drama "Eternity and A Day" (1999) with Vassilis Seimenis. Angelopoulos last directed "The Dust of Time" (2009) with Harvey Keitel. Angelopoulos passed away in January 2012 at the age of 77.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Life Events
1959
Served in the Greek military
1962
Moved to Paris and briefly attended Sorbonne, then IDHEC, and after expulsion worked at Musee de l'Homme under the tutelage of ethnographer/filmmaker Jean Rouch; he later completed a 16mm student film, a thriller, begun at IDHEC
1963
Returned to Greece and worked as a film critic for the leftist Athens daily "Dimokratiki Allaghi" (1964-67) until the paper shut down after Colonels' coup
1965
Began a semi-documentary about a pop group, "Forminx Story"; the project was abandoned after a dispute with the producer
1968
Documentary short (28-minute) writing and directing debut, "I Ekpombi/The Broadcast/The Transmission"
1970
Directed and wrote his first black and white feature film, "Anaparastassi/Reconstruction," which was also his first collaboration with cinematographer George Arvanitis
1977
Made his feature producing debut with "The Hunters," which he also wrote and directed
1980
Wrote and directed the drama "O Megalexandros," winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival
1984
Helmed "Voyage to Cythera," about an old Communist who returns to Greece after 32 years, for which he was nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes
1995
Directed Harvey Keitel in the war drama "To vlemma tou Odyssea/Ulysses' Gaze"; this was nominated for the Palme d'Or and won the Grand Prize of the Jury
1998
Wrote and directed the critically acclaimed drama "Eternity and a Day" and won the Palme d'Or at Cannes
2004
Wrote and directed "Trilogy: The Weeping Meadow"
2008
Helmed the drama "The Dust of Time," starring Willem Dafoe and Bruno Ganz
2011
Final film credit, directing the segment "Céu Inferior" for the anthology "Mundo Invisível"
Family
Companions
