El Greco (2007)| Full Length Biography Movie| English Subtitles

Greek Biography movie, that tells the epic tale of an uncompromising artist and fighter for freedom, Domenicos Theotokopoulos, known to the world as "El Greco" (Spanish for "The Greek"). Set in the 16th century, El Greco's search for freedom, and love, ranges from the courts of Crete and Venice to Toledo in Spain. Here he is confronted by his greatest adversary, the Inquisition. The story of El Greco is one of unusual heroism, betrayal, love, and the power of one man and his creative consciousness to stand out and overcome barbarity and ignorance.

Directed by Yannis Smaragdis, based on the fictionalized biographical novel "El Greco - the Painter of God" by Dimitris Siatopoulos.

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Original Title: Ελ Γκρέκο
IMDb rate: 6,6/10

Cast:
Nick Ashdon
Juan Diego Botto
Dimitra Matsouka
Lakis Lazopoulos
Laia Marull

Movie Trivia:
1. Director Yannis Smaragdis, has dedicated his career to bringing biographies of important Greeks on the screen. "El Greco" was his third biographical film, after 1981's "A Good Night to You, Mr Alexandre" (about Greek author Alexandros Papadiamantis.) and 1996's "Cavafy" (biopic of Constantine P. Cavafy). It was followed by 2012's "The Pirate/ God Loves Caviar" (based on the life of Greek pirate and merchant Ioannis Varvakis) and 2017's "Kazantzakis". And a new film, this time based on the life of Ioannis Kapodistrias, Greece's first governor, is in the making!

2. Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos (Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος), most widely known as El Greco ("The Greek"), was a Greek painter, sculptor and architect, a prominent figure of the Spanish Renaissance.
El Greco's dramatic and expressionistic style was a result of marrying Byzantine traditions with those of Western painting. His style was met with puzzlement by his contemporaries but found appreciation by the 20th century. El Greco is regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism, while his personality and works were a source of inspiration for poets and writers such as Rainer Maria Rilke and Nikos Kazantzakis. El Greco has been characterized by modern scholars as an artist so individual that he belongs to no conventional school.

3. Famous Greek composer Vangelis composed the film's music. Vangelis is wider known for the epic soundtracks that he composed for movies like 1981's Chariot's of Fire (for which he won an Academy Award), Ridley Scott's Blade Runner (1982) and 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) among others.

4. It was the last acting performance by Sotiris Moustakas. The popular Greek Cypriot actor agreed to participate in the film only if he was not getting paid, because he knew he was going to die soon.

5. When El Greco is depicted working in his workshop, a small orthodox icon is visible, indicating that the artist kept his Orthodox Christian faith after all.

6. It is the second time that El Greco's life is adapted for the screen. The first being 1966's "El Greco", an italian drama with Mel Ferrer in the role of the great painter.