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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
If you've ever felt annoyed by people who think spending money is a personality trait, you'll probably get a kick out of Farewell to Poverty. It's a biting look at post-war Athens where everyone is trying way too hard to be fancy. If you require modern pacing or constant action, you will hate this. It’s definitely a slow burn.
The whole thing feels like a dusty theater play that accidentally got captured on film. The actors move like they’re being watched by their grandmother, which actually adds to the charm. There’s this one scene where a guy tries to act all Parisian and refined, but he holds his cigarette like it’s a dangerous stick of dynamite. It’s hilarious.
Watching these characters copycat French eccentricities is a total mood. It reminds me a bit of the social maneuvering in The Auctioneer, just with more dramatic hand gestures and way too many hats. You can tell the filmmakers were genuinely annoyed by these people. It’s not subtle.
Sometimes the film lingers on a reaction shot until it gets awkward. You just sit there watching someone blink for five seconds too long. It’s kind of funny, honestly. It feels like the director forgot to yell 'cut' and everyone just stayed in character, frozen in their own vanity. 🙄
I couldn't help but compare the desperate social climbing here to the vibe in A Hint to Brides. It’s the same obsession with appearances, just a different era. The movie doesn't really try to resolve anything, which is kind of brave for the time. It just shows you the mess and walks away.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s observant as hell. You catch these tiny moments—a smirk, a glance at a fancy coat—that tell you exactly who these people are. It feels like a real record of a specific, weird moment in Greek history. I enjoyed it, even when it was being a bit clunky. Sometimes, the imperfection is the point.
