A Critique on Tarkovsky's Nostalghia

Vassilis Rafailidis (1934–2000) was a Greek film critic, writer, and journalist, known for his sharp, unconventional writing and deep analyses of art, society, and politics. His work spans a wide range of subjects, from cinema to philosophy and history, and is distinguished by his biting tone and provocative thinking.

From the 1960s, Rafailidis began publishing film reviews and essays, where he developed a personal, insightful approach, often comparing cinematic art to philosophy and sociology. He was a strong advocate of European cinema and of films that use art as a means of reflection, while deconstructing the more superficial, mass-market products of Hollywood.

Rafailidis authored several books that combine film criticism with philosophical and political issues. Some of his best-known works include The Great Adventure of Marxism, History of Greek Cinema, The Society of Exhaustion, and the classic The Great Adventure of Cinema. He was a person deeply engaged in questioning and depth, and his influence on generations of cinephiles and intellectuals in Greece is significant.

His writing is distinctive: it often combines literary power with scientific precision, while his ability to connect art to the social and existential dimensions of life gives his work a strongly philosophical character.