User reviews

Great cinematography of landscapes and faces, portrays the unseen Greek island, the Greek people of the 30s, and a story about romance, submission and the silent triumph of love.

It grasps you from the beginning, so long you settle with the way these people are to speak. To my opinion, mostly when they are in silence, true performances emerge to be given by some of Greece's youngest and eldest actors, performances that go back and go deep into the human tale.

And, not to be missed! , one of the most excruciating scenes since the beginning of cinema, performed by Pinelopi Tsilika.

Little England is the beautiful Greek island of Andros, in the 1930's - an island breeding sailors who spend most of their lives at sea, while some of them are destined never to return. Their women – mothers, daughters, wives, lovers - adjust their own lives to the pattern of the men's absence, looking forward to the happy yet brief homecomings, always praying for their safety, always half-dreading the worst.

This is the premise of the film's story - a tragic love story of epic proportions - based on Ioanna Karystiani's best-selling book. Mrs. Karystiani herself finely adapts her novel for the screen, while her husband, renowned Greek director Pantelis Voulgaris ("Brides") takes it from there and, with the help of a great cast of actors, creates an almost flawless masterpiece.

(I am not supposed to give away any spoilers, so I can only say that the film's climactic scene will probably make it to my personal top ten movie moments of all time).

Mikra Aglia is a rare work of art . Pictures like paintings on a wall, music perfectly matched , excellency in acting and directing all in one film. Feelings of love and despair will reach your heart if you watch this film. The director slowly drags you to be part of the beautiful environment of the Greek island of Andros . In some dramatic scenes I felt like I was in the room witnessing the drama . A unique masterpiece. A film not to be missed from all those who seek quality cinema in a time when thousands of trash movies full of violence are produced ,mainly from the US, and consumed by societies increasing the real violence in them. I watched the film yesterday night and I will watch it again today . I watched more than one hundred films in the last six months and I felt the need to write a review only twice , for this film and for the "Best offer" of Giussepe Tornatore .

Thank you director ( Pantelis Voulgaris ) for the gift of watching this film .

Pantelis Voulgaris in his best so far film. The actors, photography, scrip everything was in tune! I am Just grateful I have watched this film! The aesthetics have a unique character. The cinematography gives of a real character to the film. Every angle is beautiful and truly can me isolated, framed and hung on a wall. Nevertheless it is so humble without exaggerations operates in favor of the storytelling. The characters are very well written and have an amazing depth to a point that become symbols. The actors gave wonderful performances and in many cases we see excellency in acting. After leaving the cinema I felt that I have seen something magnificent. I cannot recall many films giving me such filling!

One of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Its what you call a quality film. Exquisite portrayal of the sisterhood. Lust, love, jealousy and passion are shown in the most tearful, humane way.

I came here retrospectively, being 9 years late, in need to tell you why I believe that this film is an utter masterpiece of the modern hellenic cinematography.

The actors; their acting, the photography, the music, the directing and the scenario, everything literally accounts to the masterpiece that this movie is. All three main actors play their roles exceptionally well. Penelope Tsilika though gives a recital of acting, for which in some parallel fair universe she would have won an Oscar!

Mikra Anglia is an ode to deep, real, unfulfilled love, and to the inevitability of life and fate. Can't be anything less than 10/10.

Whenever anyone who say the phase: "It's visually stunning. It's aesthetically pleasing. I give it a 5 star." it's a coping mechanism or codeword for it's a bad movie.

Yes, the exterior is pretty but this is not a travel guide video or an Instagram post. This is a movie with a hollow story that we see time after time.

The apex of a girl's life is to get married and after marriage is to get pregnant. She has finally fulfilled her role as a woman. Now, of course, there are a few heartbreak, disillusionment, and anger that are sprinkle in but her life is as dull as sheep in the field.

The men are no more interesting than the women. They're either there or aren't who barely anything worth saying.

I will only recommend this movie for anyone who is curious about the Greek villagers as their lives in 21st century has barely change since then.

Within a general view, this movie is highly above average. Moreover, the last 40-45 minutes of the movie is almost perfect; proper cinematography, aesthetic scenes and succesful tension of psychological portrays.

But, the movie has a rhytm problem. Within different parts of the movie, events happen in different time speeds. In the beginning, years flow rapidly and some major matters happen in seconds or minutes. In middle parts, while rapid flowing continues, a moderate speed starts to determine the scenes. Finally, in last 40-45 minutes, the movie finds its rhytm and every seconds of movie gets more staggering.

Except rhytm problem; it is an awesome drama.

The cast and the performances are brilliant! A true masterpiece ! Love , pain, duty.

One of the best movies I've ever seen based on book! I couldn't decide if I preferred most this movie or the book! Just a masterpiece!

The scenario is faithful on the book. The actors play exceptionally! Every minute you see their glances, you feel more angry with the timidity of Orsa and of the superficiality of Spiros, to let go such a beautiful life they could have lived. You feel their love pain and at the same time, their pane of getting hurt their families, especially Moschoula. The last scene, when Orsa screams his name was outstanding! I was feeling that I was at a theater, watching a play! It was so intense!

Also, the scenery was so beautiful. It gave you a peaceful feeling in this turbulent atmosphere of the exlovers.

It is a truly beautiful film, director Pantelis Voulgaris, who in the past has successfully made enough quality film in Greece, which had the most on the political situation in the country by the government of the conservative and and the way he behaved this, the losers of the civil war after the defeat of the Nazis in the second world war. Most movies Voulgaris show what really happened in Greece and what fate does the Greek state, those who fought the German occupation in 1941-1944. Filmmaker old film shows why the British and then the Americans, for their own interests caused the bloody civil war in Greece claiming openly associates the Germans causing carnage dead in the country, while the rest of Europe had already begun rebuilding.

I watched this movie when it was first released and I didn't find myself in awe, unlike literally everyone else I knew. So, I gave it a second and a third chance, because I didn't want to be unjust. It's definitely an extremely meticulously made film, with exceptional aesthetics and use of sounds. I found the parallelism of people's feelings to the sea's temper astounding. BUT. I have a major issue with the very essence of the film; it's overly dramatic portrayal of a tragic story. I do realize the movie's totally different era, culture and values, but I can't digest easily one's submission -especially without a fight- to an unwanted fate that somebody else imposes on them. Plus, I found the acting to be quite unnatural and over the top, to the point it felt disturbing -especially by Moscha and sometimes by Orsa and their mother. I understand the director's poetic/theatrical point of view, it just felt too much and too dragged for me. However, it is a beautiful movie, absolutely worth watching and reflecting upon.

Modern greek cinema has many flaws and generally tends to absurdity in its effort to be original and unique. But this movie stands out and feels so real, so grounded, so familiar and yet so original and unique.

The actors all give astounding performances and the music score, cinematography, photograph are contributing excellently to this beautiful movie.

It is a drama, in the original sense of the word although the ending offers no catharsis like the ancient drama. It does simulate though meaningful thoughts as to the pursuit of happiness in life.

One will not regret spending the time to watch this movie.