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Hard Goodbyes: My Father

Released Aug 6, 2002 1h 53m Drama List
85% Tomatometer 27 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

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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 Hollywood Reporter A tender and moving drama that deserves wider exposure. Oct 11, 2005 Full Review V.A. Musetto New York Post Hard Goodbyes could easily have been maudlin, but isn't. Credit an adult script and realistic acting, especially by Giorgos Karayannis as Elias. Rated: 3/4 Sep 16, 2005 Full Review Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News 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. Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 16, 2005 Full Review Rob Thomas Capital Times (Madison, WI) Panayotopoulou's story has the ring of autobiographical truth, getting the details of the period and of childhood in general right at every turn. Rated: 3/4 May 5, 2005 Full Review Bill White Seattle Post-Intelligencer A sublimely subjective journey from denial to acceptance as a 10-year-old boy comes to terms with the finality of death. Rated: B Apr 21, 2005 Full Review Walter Chaw Film Freak Central Begins to take on an allegorical, global feel. Rated: 3/4 Apr 12, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews
Hard Goodbyes: My Father

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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