Stella Violanti review: A heavy Greek tragedy that actually sticks

Is it worth the watch?

If you have a soft spot for old-school tragedies where everyone is miserable because of a dad's ego, then yeah. It is for people who enjoy silent-era vibes and watching a woman stand her ground against a whole family. 🏛️

Modern audiences who need fast talking or lots of action will probably hate this. It is very slow and spends a lot of time just looking at people's faces while they worry.

The Plot

Stella is the daughter of a rich banker. She lives in a big house on the island of Zakynthos. But she isn't interested in the rich guys her dad, Panagis, picks out for her.

She loves a guy named Zepos. He is a telegraph operator, which apparently was a very 'poor' job back then. Her father finds out and the whole thing goes south fast.

Instead of just grounded her, he locks her in the attic. The movie becomes very claustrophobic after that. You really feel the walls closing in on her. 📦

The Attic Scenes

The middle of the movie is almost entirely set in that dusty attic. You can almost feel the heat and the boredom. Kaity Arseni plays Stella with these huge, haunting eyes that do all the work.

She doesn't have to say anything to show she is breaking. There is a specific shot where she stares at a tiny crack of light coming through the door. It goes on for a long time. Maybe a bit too long, but it gets the point across.

The dust motes floating in the air look like they weren't planned. It adds a weirdly real texture to the scene. It made me think of the trapped feeling in No Man's Woman, though the vibes are different.

The Father

Athanasios Marikos plays the dad like a man who has a pole for a spine. He is so stiff. He thinks he is being a good father by 'protecting' the family name. 😠

But he just looks like a bully. There is a moment where he looks at a photo of his daughter and his face barely moves. You can't tell if he is sad or just angry the photo isn't straight on the wall.

He reminded me of some of the stern figures in The Legacy of Happiness. Just that total refusal to change his mind even when it hurts everyone around him.

Small Details

I noticed the telegraph machine gets a lot of attention early on. The clicking sounds (or the suggestion of them) feel like a heartbeat for the romance. It is the only way the two lovers can really connect.

The mother character, played by Eftyhia Pavlogianni, is sort of just... there. She floats around the house like a ghost. She clearly hates what is happening but is too scared to say anything. 👻

It is a very theatrical movie. You can tell it was based on a play by Grigorios Xenopoulos. Sometimes the actors move like they are trying to reach the back row of a theater.

The costumes are also very stiff. The high collars look like they are choking the men. It fits the theme of everyone being trapped by social rules.

There is a scene where Zepos is waiting outside that felt a bit repetitive. He walks back and forth about five times. We get it, he is nervous! ⌚

I also liked the way the island of Zakynthos looks in the few outdoor shots. It looks dry and bright. It makes the dark, cramped house feel even worse by comparison.

Final Thoughts

It is much heavier than something like A Damsel in Distress. There are no happy songs here. It is just the weight of a father's pride crushing a young woman.

The ending is pretty rough. It is a Greek tragedy, after all. Don't expect everyone to go out for ice cream at the end.

Is it perfect? Not really. Some of the secondary characters are totally forgettable. And the pacing in the middle drags like a heavy sled. 🛷

But for a movie from this era, it feels very personal. It’s a story about the word 'No' and how much it can cost to say it. If you like seeing people stand up for themselves even when they lose, give it a look.

It’s definitely better than some of the other stuff from the same time like The Island of Intrigue which feels a bit more generic. This one has a soul, even if that soul is very sad. 🥀

One reaction shot of the father lasts so long it almost becomes funny. But then you realize he is actually that cold. It is a weird balance.

Overall, it is a solid piece of history. Just make sure you are in the mood to feel a bit bummed out afterward.