Checking out the 1930 version of The Apaches of Athens

If you have any interest in how movies started to find their voice in Greece, you should probably watch Oi apahides ton Athinon. It’s for people who don't mind a bit of grain and some acting that feels like it’s being shouted from the back of a theater. If you need 4K resolution and fast editing, you are going to hate this.

I wasn't sure what to expect going in. It’s based on a famous operetta, so I thought it might be too stiff. But it actually has a lot of life in it, even if the print I saw was a bit blurry in the corners.

The main guy, Kostas, is what they call an 'Apache.' Not the American tribe, but the French-inspired slang for a city tough guy. He has this way of walking that makes him look like he owns every cobblestone in Athens.

The fight at the start is pretty funny to watch now. It isn't exactly John Wick. It’s more like a lot of flailing and very dramatic falling down. But it gets the point across.

Then we meet Titika. She’s a seamstress, and the way she looks at Kostas while cleaning his wounds is just... classic cinema. You can see the exact moment they fall in love because the camera basically stops moving for a full minute. It's a bit much, but it’s sweet in its own way.

What I liked most weren't even the main characters. It was the background. You get to see Athens in 1930. The streets look so different, less crowded but also more chaotic in a weird way.

There are these shots of people just hanging out at cafes. They look like they didn't know a camera was there. Or maybe they did and they were trying really hard to look natural, which makes it even better.

The movie feels a bit like The Artist if that movie was actually made in the era it was mocking. But this is the real deal. It’s got that synchronized sound thing going on where the music is doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the emotions.

Sometimes the sound drops out or feels a bit tinny. It reminded me of watching Arsenal, where the visuals are so strong you almost don't need the audio anyway. Though here, the singing is kind of the point.

• The hats. Everyone is wearing a hat. I miss hats.
• The way Kostas smokes a cigarette. It’s an art form.
• That one scene in the tavern where the extras are clearly just drinking for real.

The plot about the 'naive people' Kostas saves is kind of thin. They don't really do much after the first act. They just sort of exist to give Kostas a reason to be a hero. It’s fine, I guess. I was more interested in the romance anyway.

There is a scene where Titika is working on a dress, and the lighting is just perfect. It’s one of those moments where the movie stops being a goofy old film and becomes something really beautiful. Her hands move so fast, you can tell the actress actually knew how to sew.

I did find myself checking my watch around the middle mark. Some of the musical numbers go on for a while. If you aren't into the specific style of Greek operetta music, it might feel like a bit of a slog. I just used those parts to look at the furniture in the background.

It’s funny how they try to make the 'underworld' look dangerous. By today's standards, these guys look like they’d be polite at a grocery store. But back then, I bet this felt pretty edgy.

One thing that bugged me was the transition between scenes. Sometimes it just cuts black so fast I thought my screen died. It’s not smooth. But hey, it was 1930. They were figuring it out as they went.

"You can almost smell the dust and the cheap wine in the tavern scenes."

I wouldn't call this a masterpiece, but it’s a very cool time capsule. It’s got a lot of heart. You can tell the people making it really cared about the story, even if they didn't have a huge budget.

Is it better than a modern rom-com? Probably not in terms of 'pacing.' But it has way more personality. You won't see anything else that looks quite like this today.

I think I liked the ending. It felt earned. Not too flashy, just a nice wrap-up for two people who probably just wanted a quiet life away from the street fights.

Anyway, if you find a copy of this, give it a shot on a rainy Sunday. It’s short enough that even the slow parts don't overstay their welcome too much. Just be prepared for some very loud singing.