Evgenios Spatharis
Acting
Biography
Evgenios Spatharis (Greek: Ευγένιος Σπαθάρης; January 2, 1924 – May 9, 2009) was the most prominent shadow theatre artist in Greece. He is credited with having brought the traditional Karagiozis plays to mass audiences through television, recordings and cinema. Evgenios Spatharis was born in Kifissia in 1924, son of Sotiris Spatharis, himself a famous puppeteer.[6] He progressively got introduced to his father's art, despite his father's reluctance, since his wish was for Evgenios to become an architect. His first public performances were during the German occupation of Greece, when he frequently used heroic themes in order to strengthen the morale of the population. During one of his shows, the Germans arrested him and brought him to the local Kommandantur for interrogation. Using an old connection of his, he managed to perform for them and they were so impressed that they decided to send him to perform to Germany. Besides being the most famous performer of Karagiozis, he was also an accomplished painter, with over 50 exhibitions of his works. He has collaborated with many of the most important Greek artists, like Manos Hadjidakis, Dionysis Savvopoulos, Rallou Manou, Stavros Xarchakos, Melina Merkouri and others. Spatharis was a member of the Chamber of Artists of Greece and the UNESCO International Theatre Institute. He was awarded the Rome Prize in 1962, the Toscanini medal in 1978 and several other awards, while in 2007 the Greek culture ministry awarded him the title of 'Grand Master' in recognition of his great contribution to his art. Especially in his last two decades, Spatharis enjoyed wide acclaim and respect as a towering figure of the Greek shadow theatre and of cultural life in general. His death caused a stream of encomia from critics, journalists and public figures. He created the Spathario Museum in 1991, devoted exclusively to his art.
Known For
An exiled filmmaker finally returns to his home country where former mysteries and afflictions of his early life come back to haunt him once more.
Ulysses' Gaze
A poor builder tries, with the help of his wife, to raise his three children. When he gets killed in an accident at the construction site, his oldest son undertakes the responsibility of providing for the family, facing all difficulties.
Bitter Bread
No description available.
O Erotokritos
The Erotokritos is a narrative poem composed by Vitsentzos Kornaros in early 17th century Crete. It consists of 10,012 fifteen-syllable rhymed verses, the last twelve of which refer to the poet himself. It is written in the Cretan dialect of the Greek language. Its central theme is the love story between Erotokritos and Aretousa. Around this theme, revolve other themes such as honour, friendship, bravery and courage. In this adaptation, colorful shadow puppets are deployed.
Erotokritos
An approach to the phenomenon of Thanasis Vengos, the man and the artist, through film excerpts, testimonies of his collaborators and relatives and analyses of his symbolic role in the post-war modern Greek reality. Thanasis Vengos, for more than fifty years, was one of the most important actors in Greece. His films and lines are written in history, raising more than three generations of Greeks.
An All-Weather Man
The legendary long-lost documentary by Lakis Papastathis about Dionysis Savvopoulos features music videos of songs drawn from the albums *To Perivoli tou Trellou* (The Fool’s Garden), *Ballos*, *Vromiko Psomi* (Dirty Bread), and *10 Chronia Kommatia* (10 Years in Pieces). It also includes an interview and audiovisual material by Papastathis, originally presented during Savvopoulos’ performances at Kyttaro. Additionally, Savvopoulos performs together with Domna Samiou and Sotiria Bellou in a rare musical collaboration.
With Pleasure, Savvopoulos
The leading figure of Shadow Theater in Greece, the renowned Karagiozis performer, shadow theater teacher, and painter, **Evgenios Spatharis**, was born 100 years ago, on **January 2, 1924**. Continuing the family tradition of shadow theater passed down from his father, the well-known Karagiozis performer **Sotiris Spatharis**, Evgenios Spatharis dedicated his entire life to this important form of folk art. He traveled around the world showcasing his work and was honored with various European awards for his artistic contributions. In **1995**, the **Municipality of Maroussi** founded the **Spatharis Shadow Theater Museum**, giving Karagiozis a permanent home. In **2007**, the **Ministry of Culture** honored the great artist and shadow theater teacher for his contribution to Greek folk art.
Behind the Curtain: Evgenios Spatharis
Digenes Akritas (Latinised as Acritas; Greek: Διγενῆς Ἀκρίτας) is a medieval Greek romantic epic that emerged in the 12th-century Byzantine Empire. The epic details the life of the eponymous hero, Basil, whose epithet Digenes Akritas ("two-blood border lord") alludes to his mixed Greek and Arab descent. In this adaptation, colorful shadow puppets are deployed.