"Somewhere in Athens" "May 1969" "This is the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation..." "In the name of the Father and of the Son," "Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth..." "Who art everywhere present and fillest all things..." "Treasury of good gifts and Giver of Life... come and abide in us." "HARD GOODBYES:" "MY FATHER" "a film by Penny Panayotopoulou" "Wake up!" "Wake up!" "Dad's back!" "Dad's back!" "Wake up!" "Wake up!" "Dad's back!" "Cut it out." "Leave me alone." "I'm sleepy." "Why d'you keep them and don't eat them?" "I don't want to!" "We'll get cockroaches." "You mind your own business!" "It's my room." "Now it's mine too!" "Only for a little while." "You're my guest until we move to a larger house." "That's what Mom said." "When?" "When Dad's business picks up?" "Does the balloon rise?" "No!" "I hear a noise like the dashing of waves." "The sea is below us!" "Your poor Mom is below you!" "Overboard with every weight!" "Everything!" "Cyrus is in the sea!" "Let us save him!" "Let us save him!" "What are you looking at me for?" "Do something!" "I don't want any milk." "It was right in front of you." "I hate the smell of burnt milk!" "Relax." "It's no big deal." "Then wipe it yourself!" "Leave it." "You can't even put up with me for a few days a month?" "Our eldest boy gets more hostile every time I see him." "Come on, Dad." "Let's go." "They miss you." "How about you?" "Do you miss me?" "Hey!" "Right foot first!" "Why should I always get in right foot first?" "It's not like it's the first time?" "I told you it's for good luck." "This is Dad's store." "It's not just a car." "It's a tool." "Where would you like to be now?" "You go first!" "Why me?" "Because you're older." "I'm in a small seaside town." "On a trip?" "No, we've got a lovely wooden cottage on the beach... and we live there all together." "Mom too?" "Mom too." "And godfather?" "And godfather." "We're not leaving him alone." "I also have a small store." "What kind of store?" "One that sells things." "Various nice things..." "Curious things you can't find anywhere else." "TV sets too?" "TV sets too." "When you lock up the store for the day d'you go straight home?" "I don't think so." "I think I'll go for a ride in the boat." "Did I tell you?" "We also have a wonderful boat." "What's it called?" "Elias!" "Not Elias!" "Why not?" "Let's call it Apollo like the spaceships." "Now it's your turn." "Where are you?" "There was only one man who would not admit... that the situation was desperate-- he alone had confidence;" "Jules Verne and that was their devoted friend J.T. Maston." "He never let them get out of his sight." "As soon as the moon rose above the horizon he immediately... caught her in the field of the telescope and watched... with untiring patience the passage of the projective... across her silvery disc, and really the worthy man... remained in perpetual communication... with his three friends... whom he did not despair of seeing again some day." ""Those are clever men," said he, you will see that, some day, they will come out all right."" "In a while men may walk up there." "Was it true what the books wrote?" "Yes." "Didn't the same thing happen with submarines?" "The mind travels faster than actions." "You'd never go without me, would you?" "I might go first to see what it's like... but then I'd send for you." "Will you promise me we'll go together one day?" "You won't be scared?" "Only girls are scared." "When did you start smoking?" "You wouldn't even look at a cigarette." "Since it's become the only thing that keeps me company." "Dad!" "Dad!" "Don't go!" "Dad!" "Wait!" "Wait!" "I'm coming with you!" "Dad!" "Don't go away again." "I'm coming with you!" "Can't you hear me?" "I'm coming with you." "Dad!" "Don't go away again!" "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20." "Are you leaving again for work?" "Not yet." "So how come you're shaving?" "I never leave the house without shaving." "I like you better when you have a beard." "It itches." "Are you going to kiss someone?" "You." "How about Mom?" "You did it." "I didn't mean to." "The wind blows... and a dark moon rests on the hill." "Where are you, my love, I want to take you in my arms.." "Your first shave." "Will you teach me too?" "When you grow up?" "When I get my first job?" "When your time comes." "Our footpath has been overgrown with weeds..." "The empty nights I long for you... my lost young lad." "Michalis!" "How are you, Michalis?" "It's not Michalis, mother." "It's Christos." "How are you, Christos?" "How are your kids?" "Here's one of them..." "the youngest." "Your good-for-nothing wife never brings them to see me." "It's difficult now with school." "What school?" "When did they grow up?" "Michalis' kids are the babies, mother." "Mine go to school." "I'm Christos, not Michalis, mother." "I know you're Christos." "He lets me starve to death." "Who?" "Your brother." "All day without food." "I can't believe Theodosius would do something like that." "He loves you." "He's always talking to me about you." "He's lying." "I haven't eaten in three days." "He wants to kill me off." "His wife wants to kill me off." "I'm a burden to her." "Theodosius isn't married, mother." "You two are alone." "He has you to look after." "He's been divorced for years." "He still listens to her." "They talk on the phone secretly." "They think I'm deaf but I can hear everything." "Why don't you take me to your home?" "You're all I've got." "My dear mother, I haven't forgotten you." "I just arrived in Naupactus on the ferry." "I'm having coffee in a coffee house under the walls... and leaving for Arta right away." "Now I have my own car life has become easier." "Business will pick up." "I'm sure of it." "Kiss Theodosiuss for me and don't forget your medication." "Your son Christos" "I'm frequently away... and the house is small." "Throw her out." "Who?" "Your wife." "She doesn't love you." "I always said your wife didn't love you." "Remember?" "Let's go, Dad." "Mom will be worried." "Why d'you say such things, mother?" "I know." "I'm your mother." "Come on!" "Let's go, Dad." "Mom will be worried." "You've never tasted such food." "We're not staying, Theodosius." "We'll eat at home." "Isn't this your home too?" "Aren't we your family?" "Why don't you eat, Mom?" "She does that all the time and when I'm not looking... she devours it secretly." "Don't worry." "It's a game of hers." "She hides her food under her bed!" "I saw it, Godfather!" "Have you been poking into other people's things again?" "You'll get cockroaches!" "Something must have happened." "Nothing's happened." "Eat!" "They probably had dinner with his folks." "And you know it." "Don't be so mad, son." "It's not right." "He is your father." "Eat!" "I'm not hungry!" "Come on, just a bite to keep me company." "Shall I heat it up?" "It doesn't matter." "It upsets me to see you working so hard with no results." "I could open my own store with all the money they owe me!" "That's what our late father did... gave everybody credit... and we lost all we had." "I don't remember us lacking anything." "You've got to be kidding!" "You don't remember." "I raised you." "You were younger." "On my salary." "I could have brought you into the company too... but you were too hare-brained." "Hush now, Theodosius." "It's not his brain that's to blame." "It's his wife." "Not the same again, Mom!" "Why d'you write Grandma postcards... since when she sees us she never knows it's us?" "I like sending her letters because when I write to her..." "I think of the way she was then." "Some things you do for yourself, not for others." "D'you bring the chocolates for me or for you?" "Are we a family?" "You come and go like a visitor." "You're never home." "They're my family too." "I can't stand you always saddling me with your folks... and the old woman!" "Don't talk that way about my mother!" "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.." "I married you." "You were just one in church, not three!" "11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24... 25, 26, 27, 28, 29..." "Put it down!" "Turn it off I said!" "I can't listen to them!" "They stopped." "Only for a while." "Why only for a while?" "Because they'll start again." "And how would you know?" "It's a question of statistics." "What's statistics?" "Even if I explained you wouldn't understand." "Yes I will." "Some other time." "Anyway this time it didn't last so long... the fight." "And how would you know?" "D'you keep score?" "Yes, I do!" "What does it matter keeping score?" "It matters a lot." "Every time it'll be less and less... until in the end they won't fight at all." "That's not the way it works and you know it." "So how does it work?" "With statistics?" "I fooled you!" "I never keep score!" "My Dad's got the same." "Yes, but these are mine." "My Dad gave them to me... because he bought a new shaving machine that does everything." "You don't have a beard yet." "What will you do with them?" "You can shave even if you don't have a beard." "How?" "I'll show you during recess." "Who taught you that?" "My Dad." "Your Dad's a jerk." "I said you can do it!" "No, you can't!" "What d'you need these in class for, Manolopoulos?" "My Dad gave them to me." "Why carry them around?" "He wants to shave during recess." "You keep quiet!" "Put them back in the bag and don't bring them to school." "Next time I see them I'll confiscate them." "I didn't have the time." "Have you seen my shaving gear?" "It's not in the bathroom?" "No." "You must have put it somewhere and don't remember where." "No goodbye for me?" "This won't go on much longer." "Someone's always taking you away from me." "Stay!" "Stay!" "Where are you, son?" "You're late." "I was worried..." "Where's Dad?" "He left." "You were too late." "How did he leave without his shaving kit?" "Where are you going?" "Come here." "Come here at once." "Eat your food." "You're skin and bones." "I don't want any." "I've eaten." "What's that supposed to mean?" "Sit down at table." "I ate I tell you!" "I had a cream pastry." "Cream pastries aren't food." "But I'm stuffed." "Eat, goddammit!" "It's not enough I have my own problems..." "I also have you and your lack of appetite." "Your father will be back." "He hasn't gone for ever!" "Now eat up!" "Eat." "This time I'll be gone a while." "But I'll be back before the moon landing." "Remember your Dad always keeps his promises." "On my next trip I'm taking you with me." "It's Mom's fault Dad is at home so little." "It's not Mom's fault." "It is only you don't see it." "If you must know I saw them kissing before he left." "I don't believe you." "Mom will wake up." "Hello." "She's not here right now." "Her son... 21..." "She'll be late." "You can give me the message." "When?" "And where is he now?" "And the car?" "His things?" "No, it isn't necessary." "I'll tell her." "For sure... 21 I told you." "What does the word "accessibility" mean?" "When you come closer." "Dad's gone." "I know." "I can see that, can't I?" "He's gone for ever." "He's not gone for ever." "He'll be back." "He was in a car crash." "He won't be back." "He left me a note, I tell you." "See for yourself." "He says it clearly." "Look if you don't believe me!" "He wrote that before the crash." "He wrote to me too." "You're lying!" "If he wrote to you where is it?" "Show me!" "I don't have it." "Liar!" "You're jealous because he didn't leave you anything..." "and you want to hurt me." "I don't have it!" "I tell you Dad's dead." "He's dead." "How will we tell Mom?" "He'll be a while but he'll be back." "He promised." "What's all this shouting?" "Can't one get any rest in this house?" "I was reading quietly in my room and he came and told me... that Dad's gone and won't be back and that Dad's dead... and won't be coming back." "Why's he lying?" "Why?" "Why?" "Aris, what happened?" "What happened, Aris?" "Speak to me, son!" "What happened, son?" "Speak up, son!" "51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58,59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69... 70, 71, 72, 73, 74... 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80..." "You can't believe it but it's true." "Dad's dead." "He's gone for ever and he won't be back." "It doesn't mean that he's stopped loving you." "He'll just be showing it to you in another way now." "This time I'll be gone a while." "But I'll be back before the moon landing." "Remember your Dad always keeps his promises." "On my next trip I'm taking you with me." "Get up and clean it up!" "They fell by themselves I tell you." "It's not my fault." "What d'you mean they fell by themselves?" "By themselves!" "Clean it up!" "Stop it!" "Am I going to school today?" "What do you want to do?" "I'd like to go." "Wouldn't you rather we had a talk?" "They fell by themselves I tell you." "It's not my fault." "All right." "Go on." "You're late." "The word "mirage" means... seeing things that don't exist... in the place of others that exist." "In the desert... for example... they say that thirsty travelers..." "Sir!" "Sir!" "Something's wrong with Manolopoulos!" "Leave the classroom all of you, quietly!" "Hurry up!" "What happened to you, son?" "Didn't you sleep well last night?" "I couldn't sleep." "Why not?" "Are there any problems at home?" "No, none." "I just couldn't sleep." "Are your parents away?" "My Dad's abroad." "And your mother." "She's with him." "She never leaves him alone." "So who's at home with you?" "My brother." "Alone, the two of you?" "With my godfather as well!" "When your parents return tell them I want to see them." "They haven't been here for a long time." "You can stay here if you like until we find someone at home.." "to come and pick you up so you can go home and rest." "No, I don't want to go home." "I'd like to stay in class." "What happened?" "What did he do to you?" "Did he punish you?" "Nothing." "I knew about mirages and stuff and I was bored... listening to things I know and I fell asleep." "They asked me and I told them and they didn't punish me." "Yeah, right, you knew!" "Silence!" "I tell you I knew." "Fine." "Then tell me why does it only happen in the desert." "It doesn't only happen in the desert." "They told us that for it to happen it must be very warm." "Baklatzis!" "I said quiet!" "If you want something a lot you see it in front of you alive." "You close your eyes, then you open them again and it's there, in front of you." "It can happen everywhere." "It's not in front of you." "You think it is but it isn't." "That's a mirage." "The heat makes you see things..." "that don't exist." "Will you be quiet!" "When you see it it's real." "In the desert when you're thirsty there's no water... but you see it in front of you." "My Dad drank water in the desert." "He's been to the desert?" "Once, on business." "Baklatzis!" "Manolopoulos!" "I'll throw you both out!" "You got it wrong." "I'll explain after class." "Don't insist." "Know-it-all!" "So, children." "Don't forget the essay for Monday:" ""What season of the year I like best and why? "" "Why did you come to get me?" "You don't like my company?" "Sure I do." "What do you like most about me?" "Dad loves you a lot." "Just that?" "You take me fishing and fix my broken toys." "Just that?" "I told you three things." "Want me to think of more?" "No, they're enough." "Now you tell me why you like being my godfather." "Find three things." "I like listening to you tell me what you dream about." "I like it that you help me when we go fishing." "Yes." "I like it that you never tell anyone what you'll be... when you grow up." "I like that most of all." "Yes." "What happened?" "He didn't say a word about it." "And you?" "I couldn't." "Some other day..." "after the funeral." "Theodosius, I don't think he's understood what's happened." "Don't pressure him." "It'll sink in gradually." "My favorite season is winter." "I like it that it's snowing and cold outside... but indoors we're warm, very warm." "This Christmas my Dad brought home a huge tree... like a spaceship." "It took up the whole room..." "It was so tall that it pierced the ceiling... and reached the sky." "Now we'll hang the star at the top, he told me... and started climbing the ladder to reach the top." "It was very far up." "You couldn't see the top." "It would take him a long time to reach it." "From down below I watched him climb and as he climbed... he got smaller, very small, even smaller than me." "I couldn't see the top but he shouted that he could see it... just a little more and he would reach it." "He became a small dot and vanished." "I couldn't see him." "He vanished." "I waited for him to come down." "A long time." "I couldn't let go of the ladder." "But I couldn't keep awake." "I fell asleep." "Come here!" "I don't want to wear it!" "Auntie said so too." "We've got to wear it for 40 days." "It's ugly!" "They'll make fun of me." "No one will make fun of you." "If you wear it your teacher won't make you get up in class." "Really?" "And if you're rowdy... he won't punish you!" "You have my word." "Put it on!" "I'll do it when I go to school." "Why should it wear it now?" "Elias!" "Come, Michalis." "Where would you like to be now?" "I'm in a boat named Apollo." "I get in and set sail." "In a little while the lights of the town fade." "The sky is full of stars." "And you're happy?" "Yes, I'm happy." "Now it's your turn." "Where are you?" "I'm in a spaceship." "What's your spaceship like?" "Like our car Birbilo." "And where are you off to?" "To the moon." "I'll be there at any moment." "I step on the brake and stop." "I pull up the handbrake." "I open the door and get out." "Aren't you getting instructions over the radio?" "I did it before." "Now I'm taking my first steps on the moon." "Hold on." "I think I see you." "From where?" "From my boat." "No way!" "You don't have your binoculars." "Yes I do." "I always take them with me everywhere I go." "And what do you see?" "I see you..." "a black dot on the moon." "I don't see you, Daddy." "Why did you turn it off." "It's the only company I have." "What company, Mom?" "You don't understand what it's saying." "I understand everything." "Where's the girl I left to watch over you?" "She was dismissed." "Why must you always do whatever comes into your goddamn head?" "Because they all steal." "You should stay home and keep an eye on them." "Tell me." "Why are you dressed like a bridegroom?" "What are you up to?" "Space Encyclopedia The Great Space Adventure" "moonlanding" "Where were you these days?" "We went on a trip to the place where my Dad was born." "The teacher said your Dad is dead." "He's not dead." "He'll be back." "So then why're you wearing that black arm band?" "It's my new trick." "What kind of trick?" "If you wear it the teacher won't make you get up in class, and if you're rowdy he won't punish you." "It's to fool them." "My Dad wore it when my grandma died." "Maybe he wanted to fool them at work... and you think he wore it for your grandma." "That's different." "See!" "All this time we've been talking secretly... and he hasn't said anything." "It worked!" "The three first desks go the blackboard." "Not you Manolopoulos." "You won't be tested today." "My Dad had brought me a female puppy from one of his trips... and we called it Gagarin... like the astronaut who was lost in space." "How come you gave a female puppy a man's name?" "When you're a hero it doesn't matter... if you're a man or a woman." "You're both." "How can that be?" "It can." "You're everything... you're not just the one or just the other." "You're both." "As long as I know you I don't remember you having a dog." "You never told me." "She was run over by a car." "She died?" "She didn't die." "She was lost." "But she was run over by a car." "Is Gagarin dead?" "He's dead." "He was killed in a plane crash." "He didn't die, he was lost in space." "I'm fed up with you." "When you're in a car crash you die, when the plane crashes you die and they write about you... in the newspapers." "How much does a TV cost?" "We'll give you a good price." "My Dad's in the same business." "Our house is full of such stuff." "Where were you at this hour?" "D'you want to kill our Mom?" "Who d'you think you are yelling at me?" "My Dad?" "You're not my Dad!" "Where were you all this time?" "I left early... because the other kids wouldn't play with me at recess... so I went for a walk and lost track of time." "I also went into a store and asked how much a TV costs.." "A store like the one Dad had." "Dad didn't have a store." "He was on the road." "So what was his car?" "A car isn't a store." "It's like a store." "He told me so lots of times." "Any anyway what's it to you how much a TV costs." "It's not like we have the money to buy one!" "Why did you bring this stuff here?" "We've got to get the car fixed." "The repair shop won't store it." "Where could we take it?" "Why not your house?" "If Mom sees it she'll realize what happened." "It's high time she did!" "Sooner or later she will!" "I'll keep it from her for as long as I can..." "She doesn't even know who's who..." "It won't be here long." "I'll sell it to some co-workers." "I know they're interested." "Whatever you can spare for the widows and orphans..." "Don't talk that way!" "I'll get a job." "Don't say a word." "We won't need anyone's help." "Not another word!" "Theodosius I don't want this stuff here!" "Understand?" "Take it to your mother, put it in some corner..." "and tell her some lie." "She'll figure it out!" "She may have gotten quirky but she understands everything." "So she'll understand." "Only today she asked me:" "Where is he?" "Why doesn't he write?" "Just this." "The other stuff you'll take." "Why don't we take it up to the laundry-room?" "My dear mother." "I haven't had enough of you." "I see you less.." "and less but from now on I won't be seeing you at all." "It doesn't mean I won't love you." "I'll just be showing it to you in another way." "I've moved." "With the kids." "We live on an island... in a little house on the sandy beach." "It's wooden." "Dark brown." "With large round tree trunks that have been cut." "There are screen doors everywhere... which make a creaky sound when you open and close them." "Ever since I was a kid I've always loved this sound." "And when it's windy, the sand rises and forms dunes." "You have to shut your eyes hard to be able to see afterwards... when the wind has stopped blowing." "The kids haven't learnt how to shut their eyes quickly... and they run about shouting with their eyes full of tears." "But when I ask them if they want to go back... to the apartment and their old school they say they don't... and they look at me with tears in their eyes..." "Not real tears, I mean, but tears from the sand." "Their mother is calmer now." "We don't fight like we used to." "And if we do, it's never in front of the children." "Each time she comes home from shopping with huge paper bags.." "that make a nice sound when you fumble inside them... and takes out lots of tin cans and meat cuts and vegetables... and fruit and seafood and fish and eggs..." "Talk to me." "I'll help you pack them up." "No." "I don't want us to touch anything yet." "Why?" "I don't get it." "Because I don't want us to touch anything yet." "And I can't!" "I keep running into him." "Fine!" "So tell me..." "What d'you want us to do?" "Is this what you want?" "I'm sorry." "Give me a little time." "I'll pull out of it." "I can't bear seeing you this way." "I'll feel better if I know you're in school... and everything is the way it was before." "I don't want to go back to school." "I'll get a job." "Don't even think about it at your age!" "D'you hear me?" "We got a letter." "From whom?" "What d'you mean from whom?" "From your brother." "That's impossible!" "I have it right here." "Let me see." "Open it!" "Read it to me." "Could you wait a while, mother?" "I'm very tired right now." "Read it to me now!" "Where were you?" "At work." "I said read it to me!" "Where are you going?" "We've got a lot of work today." "I'm locked up here all day... like a prisoner, all alone." "What are you doing up here?" "Come down and let's do your homework." "I'm writing." "I like it better up here." "What's it to you?" "Come down and I'll read you a story." "Wouldn't you like that?" "You know you can't read well." "Come on." "Let's give it a try... and if you don't like my voice I'll stop." "I'm telling you right now." "I don't like your voice." "We don't need to try." "What don't you like about it?" "It's very high-pitched." "It's girlish." "So what have you got against girls?" "They annoy me!" "Here." "Put this on." "With all this talk I forgot what I was writing." "It'll come back to you." "You think it's that easy?" "Will you read me what you've written?" "Your teacher say you write very beautiful essays." "You're hopeless at arithmetic but you write beautiful essays." "When did he tell you?" "It's been a while." "I don't remember." "Lies." "You're only saying it so I tell you what I'm writing." "Don't insist." "I'm not telling you." "I'll torment you and you'll tell me." "You win." "I'm going down." "But you come down by the time I count to 40." "OK?" "Otherwise you'll be in real trouble." "The next house is very far away and so are the stores." "Then the boy inflates the paper bags and pops them... against the wall and giggles." "He doesn't stop laughing." "All these years and he's never grown tired of the same game." "He has gotten quite an appetite and eats all the time." "If you could see him you wouldn't recognize him." "He has grown so much he can now fit into my suits." "How much does a TV cost?" "Installments or cash?" "Installments." "You'll give me a small down payment, you'll take the TV... so that you can see the moon landing... and you'll give me what you can every month." "I don't know." "I should also ask my husband." "Your husband won't object, if he loves you, of course..." "Anyway he's not home that much so he has no say in the matter." "My kids tell me it's the best present I ever gave them." "You're married?" "Very married." "I've also got two boys." "The youngest is smarter." "Don't make distinctions." "It's not right." "What are you wearing?" "Have you been poking in my closet?" "It's not yours." "It's Dad's too." "We should take it in so it'll fit you." "I don't want you to touch anything." "I'll grow up and they'll fit me." "You'll have to wait a while." "I don't mind waiting." "Dad wears them loose too." "I can't breathe in here." "I want you to take me for a walk." "But it's dark now." "Where shall we go?" "You won't see much." "Let's go!" "Are you sure, Mom?" "Yes!" "Let's go back now, Mom." "We're quite a ways from home." "No." "A little more." "Tell me... how is my son?" "He's fine." "Didn't we just read his letter?" "I'm the one who turned him away." "You're all I have left." "What's up, Aris?" "Nothing's up." "So why is godfather here?" "I'm talking to you." "And I'm answering!" "What will you do with Daddy's car?" "We'll try and sell it for him." "We have needs." "Birbilo belongs to my Dad." "When he comes back he'll have you put in jail!" "All of you!" "What are we going to do with the boy." "He doesn't want to believe it." "And you?" "What about me?" "I'm at my wits' end." "Dad's dead and he won't be back!" "He's been dead the past fortnight!" "The car will be sold whether you like it or not." "We need money!" "If you must know Dad's gone abroad and he only told me." "D'you hear me?" "He only told me." "You're still here?" "The old woman must be missing you." "Your uncle's trying to help." "Watch how you speak to him." "OK?" "Get us a beer out of the ice-box." "I'm sorry." "It's real tough for me too." "He was the only company I had." "Did he ever talk to you about me?" "My dear mother." "The boys won't let me sell the car." "The little one most of all." "He tells me he'll paint it... in bright colors, take out the wheels so nobody can steal it, remove the seats and put a mattress so he can sleep in it." "He'll also put a flowerpot on it so that on the outside... the car looks like the balcony of a house." "He'll glue pages from his favorite illustrated classics.." "to the roof and he won't have to count sheep to fall asleep, or hold a book in his hand." "He'll look up at the roof... and for as long as his eyes are open he'll read... and sooner or later he'll fall asleep." "I bought a boat." "I put my stuff in it and go to work by boat." "Since the sea is everywhere and all the homes are on the beach, what would I do with a car?" "I go much faster this way." "When the sea gets rough I'll see what I'll do." "Elias?" "Aris!" "Wake up!" "Come on, Theodosius." "Please wake up." "Elias has disappeared." "What did you say to him?" "Tell me!" "What did you say to him?" "Nothing." "I told him the truth." "I told him that Dad's dead." "Why don't you take me back home?" "I'm tired." "I think we should go to your grandma?" "I don't want to go to Grandma!" "Well she'll be very happy to see you." "She doesn't recognize me!" "She confuses me with other kids!" "She may not recognize you right away, but she'll be pleased... the way she was pleased with some postcards you sent her." "What postcards?" "I didn't send her any postcards!" "Well, your Grandma keeps getting some lovely letters." "My Dad writes very beautiful letters." "I can show you one." "You write beautifully too." "Your Grandma enjoys it." "It's not me." "Put me down!" "I said put me down!" "Let me go!" "Mother!" "Come, sweetheart, let me take a look at you." "You've forgotten your mother." "You've become so thin." "You must eat." "You must eat butter." "I'll prepare some slices for you to eat at school." "I'll eat them, Mom but starting tomorrow." "It's not Christos, mother." "It's his son Elias, your grandson." "Our Christos was killed." "He died in a car crash." "He did not die!" "I knew it." "I knew it from the start." "Where did you get them?" "They're a present from my Dad." "He's back from his trip." "That many?" "It was my birthday yesterday." "Have another one." "They're stale." "My dear mother, Something very bad happened... here on the island that I know will upset you... but I can't hide it from you because I tell you everything." "Some burglars broke into the house and robbed me." "They took almost everything..." "All the things I've been collecting all these years... are now in the hands of other people." "But don't be upset." "I've realized something for the first time." "I've realized that I can live without these things." "Grandma!" "Grandma!" "You forgot something!" "I can live without having anything... anything... because I keep everything in my mind." "I keep it there and from there no one can take it away... because I realize that it's the best hiding-place." "Would you read this letter to me again, child?" "And if you ever want to hide something really well... keep it there so that they can't reach it." "Of course you must be careful not to hide too many things." "Otherwise they won't all fit in... and the things that are already in there will be very crammed.." "and they'll burst out and you'll lose them." "I miss you all this time I've been away from you..." "I promise I'll be back." "And I always keep my promises." "Moon landing" "We'll be at godfather's summer cottage." "I didn't want to go." "I wanted to wait for you but the others didn't." "If you come, that's where you'll find us." "Your son (the youngest)" "GOOD LUCK At 3.32' THEY GO TO THE MOON" "The first space explorers" "I'm glad we didn't sell it." "I'll learn how to drive." "And until then?" "We'll keep it at the country cottage." "We're off on a distant journey, to other lands, unknown waters." "You're left alone on the wharf." "My mind will always be on the island." "Now the ship has sailed... and the sight of land fades from sight..." "How did your mother take it?" "I'd rather not talk about it." "Anyway the way I see it you've finally come of age." "The way you were no woman could take you seriously." "What does coming of age mean?" "When someone grows up." "When someone grows tall?" "There are other ways of growing..." "Like putting one's Mom in an old age home." "I want to see him." "I want you to stop." "It's on our way." "As you like." "Where are we stopping?" "There's kids in the car." "You can't drink and drive." "I know what I'm doing." "We can see that!" "Aris!" "Well I for one don't feel comfortable in the car." "It's your car." "No it's not." "Ours was blue." "Let's stop." "I want to take a leak." "Yeah and I'm feeling dizzy." "Don't read in the car." "That's what makes you dizzy." "I'll wait with the kids in the car." "I'm getting out." "I'm not." "I'm staying here." "CHRISTOS MANOLOPOULOS 20-1-1924 11-6-1969" "Your Dad will be looking down at us from the sky." "Which one d'you like best?" "I like this one." "Don't do that." "They're taking a long time." "Why is Mom crying?" "Don't worry." "That's why she came... to cry." "Are they sleeping lying on their stomach or on their back?" "On their back so they can look at the sky." "And if they can't fall asleep lying on their back... why don't they put them lying on their stomach?" "They're already asleep when they put them in here." "Don't worry." "Everything will be all right." "What d'you want with just me?" "Wait for the kids." "Come on, Aris." "The Brady Bunch... minus one." "Come on." "Let me take one of you too." "Me too with you godfather!" "Get the TV in the picture too, Mom!" "Don't worry!" "Be careful!" "I close my eyes and listen to the sea... as the waves flow through the sand they tickle my feet." "I open my eyes and look at the stars..." "I can see a shooting star now and I'll make a wish." "But I won't tell you what it is so it will come true." "We should never tell other people the wishes we make... because the wind sweeps them away and they come true... somewhere else and not for us who made them." "Make a little room for me." "No!" "Make a little room." "No, no!" "I see you've started work bright and early!" "I'll have to leave in a little while." "I had to do it now." "We just got here." "Where are you going?" "I feel sorry for her all alone there." "I won't be gone long..." "just a little while." "What will you tell Elias?" "You think of something." "So why did you bring us here?" "I have the worst memories of this goddamn place!" "Godfather!" "Where are you going?" "Why did Godfather leave us alone?" "You're not alone, son." "You're with me and your brother." "Go away!" "I don't need you any more." "How much longer?" "Half an hour." "Aris!" "How much longer?" "How much longer?" "10 minutes." "Who're you calling at this hour?" "My friend Andreas." "What's it to you?" "You've memorized Andreas' phone number?" "That I remember." "21st of July 1969 A great day for mankind... in a few minutes the first live images..." "Come sit with us!" "I don't want to." "It's too crowded inside." "Come inside so I can explain." "I don't want to." "I can understand." "Son..." "You waited for this so long and now what?" "You're upset?" "Why?" "You're frightened?" "Get off my back!" "Hello." "Hold on, Godfather." "You'll see it on TV so why did you turn that thing on?" "I want everything turned on!" "Hellenic Radio once again interrupts its program... to broadcast the astronaut's words from the moon." "Let him be." "He'd rather be alone." "Where are you off to?" "I'm in a hurry." "I'm going to the moon." "If you're in such a rush why is it taking you so long to shave?" "I never leave the house without shaving." "With all your talk I cut myself." "Won't you say goodbye to me?" "I've grown up now." "I don't need kisses." "So I can tell you if it itches." "When I come back I'll have grown even taller." "Put a mark so I'll believe you." "Won't you come out to say goodnight?" "Read me the end." "I thought you didn't like my voice." "Wouldn't you rather your brother read to you?" "I'd rather you did." "Shall I come inside?" "From outside." "There was only one man who would not admit... that the situation was desperate-- he alone had confidence;" "Faster!" "and that was their devoted friend J.T. Maston." "He never let them get out of his sight." "Louder!" "As soon as the moon rose above the horizon he immediately... caught her in the field of the telescope and watched... with untiring patience the passage of the projective... across her silvery disc, and really the worthy man... remained in perpetual communication... with his three friends... whom he did not despair of seeing again some day." ""Those are clever men," said he," ""You will see that, some day, they will come out all right."" "See that you get some sleep." "Good night." "Good night." "Elias..." "I can't see you, Daddy." "Does that scare you?" "Yes." "Try to hear me." "I hear you." "Is it warm there where you are?" "Very warm." "Why are you afraid to hold me in your arms?" "Because I'm far away and my arms can't reach you." "If you're so far away how come I can hear you?" "Didn't we say it?" "The voice travels faster." "Your voice will come first and then you?" "Subtitles:" "Arigon" "Dear Granny, Dad died yesterday watching the moon landing..." "I've never seen a happier man." "Elias" "To my parents who taught me everything except one thing:" "how to say goodbye."