The Athenians (1990): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1990, The Athenians is a notable film directed by Vasilis Alexakis.

What it’s about. This is a series of intersecting stories. A petty crook and former lover of a lazy ingénue steals the box-office receipts from the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, on the day an important football game is also taking place. There is also the story of the half-mad mother of the ingénue who refuses to put shoes on because she believes that shoes lead people astray. An eccentric grave-digger produces a two-seater coffin for couple-victims of car accidents. The film also tells the story of one of the Odeon's cleaning women and of a watermelon that goes all around the city, pursued by a tired theater technician and his sister, who is a tour guide. The impresario conducts an inquiry after the theft, but the thief and his two associates, the ingénue and the technician, use what was stolen to set up a small theatre. Small everyday stories and comic incidents combine to create a portrait of modern-day Athens.

Who’s in it. The Athenians stars Antonis Kafetzopoulos, Athinodoros Prousalis, Mania Papadimitriou and Kostas Tsakonas, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, The Athenians has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Athenians page.