CINEMA: LOVE AND DESTINY ON HIGH SEAS
Gerald Chuah
New Straits Times, Malaysia
Aug. 31, 2006
BRIDES
Directed by Pantelis Voulgaris
Starring Damian Lewis, Victoria Haralabidou, Andrea Ferreol, Evi
Saoulidou, Steven Berkoff, Dimitris
NOTHING works as well as a good old-fashioned love story. Brides is
an epic romance story shot on board a ship but this is no Titanic.
Its merits are stark realism and good acting, and the film is devoid
of Hollywood special effects.
The film should have been renamed Mail Order Bride as this is its
main theme.
Set in 1922, the movie depicts the story of 700 mail order brides
from Greece, Turkey, Russia and Armenia travelling on the SS King
Alexander to United States to meet prospective husbands.
Some see it as an opportunity to start a brand new life, while others
are bound by familial duties. Most feel lost, depressed and homesick
as they have to leave the comfort of their homes and family to marry
a stranger.
Although Brides is a new film, it looks as if it was taken from some
archives. The colours are muted and the story is slow-moving and a
bit depressing.
However, the film abounds with great dialogue and acting.
The shots of the brides are almost haunting as their future looms
with excitement and apprehension.
This excellent filmmaking technique brings out the best in this
epic drama.
The main characters are American photographer Norman Harris (Damien
Lewis) and Greek seamstress Niki (Victoria Haralabidou).
Harris is returning home after roaming Asia Minor for several years.
He is frustrated and despondent after his latest wartime photos are
rejected by the American newspaper he’s working for.
He is inspired to photograph the mail order brides in their bridal
attire after observing them from the deck.
He falls in love with demure seamstress Niki, who is bound for Chicago
to marry a tailor named Prodromos.
Their brief relationship culminates with a heart-rending decision
upon their arrival in America.
No movie is complete without the bad guy and here, it is a Russian
(played by Steven Berkoff) who lures some of the young girls away to
be his potential "business partners".
The movie captures the epic and emotional journey with attention to
detail, including costumes and the ship’s various quarters.
The atmosphere is moody and sensual, reminiscent of the era.
Ultimately, the film is about strong emotions, dilemmas and conscience.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
