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Hard Goodbyes: My Father

Play trailer Hard Goodbyes: My Father 2002 1h 53m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
85% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Elias (Yorgos Karayannis), a young boy in Athens, Greece, doesn't see much of his dad, traveling salesman Hristos (Stelios Mainas), but the two still share a close bond. Hristos has promised to watch the moon landing with his son, but a car accident cuts his life short. As Elias's older brother, Aris (Hristos Bouyotas), and mother (Ioanna Tsirigouli) try to come to terms with their loss, Elias denies his father's death and concocts elaborate fantasies involving himself, his dad and space travel.
Hard Goodbyes: My Father

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Karayannis handles the lead role well, and the result is a poignant exploration of grief.

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Critics Reviews

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Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter 10/11/2005
A tender and moving drama that deserves wider exposure. Go to Full Review V.A. Musetto New York Post 09/16/2005
3/4
Hard Goodbyes could easily have been maudlin, but isn't. Credit an adult script and realistic acting, especially by Giorgos Karayannis as Elias. Go to Full Review Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News 09/16/2005
2.5/4
Panayotopoulou does handle the material with sensitivity, but she relies too much on her young hero's unlikely precocity, which unwittingly diminishes the intensity of a child's very real grief. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Hard Goodbyes: My Father

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Cast & Crew

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Penny Panayotopoulou

Director

Yorgos Karayannis

Ilias

Stelios Mainas

Ilias' Father

Ioanna Tsirigouli

Ilias' Mother

Hristos Bouyotas

Aris

Despo Diamantidou

Actor

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Movie Info

Synopsis Elias (Yorgos Karayannis), a young boy in Athens, Greece, doesn't see much of his dad, traveling salesman Hristos (Stelios Mainas), but the two still share a close bond. Hristos has promised to watch the moon landing with his son, but a car accident cuts his life short. As Elias's older brother, Aris (Hristos Bouyotas), and mother (Ioanna Tsirigouli) try to come to terms with their loss, Elias denies his father's death and concocts elaborate fantasies involving himself, his dad and space travel.
Director
Penny Panayotopoulou
Producer
Thanos Karathanos, Kostas Lambropoulos, George Louizos
Screenwriter
Penny Panayotopoulou
Distributor
Vagrant Films
Production Co
Alpha TV
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Greek
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 6, 2002, Wide
Runtime
1h 53m