William L
The Travelling Players is the level of epic filmmaking just below a true spared-no-expense international production; you are treated to a diverse range of on-location shooting sites and several scenes featuring several dozen choreographed extras, but also get a few "English" soldiers singing 'It's a Long Way to Tipperary' through accents that don't really scream Chelsea or Brighton.
The story of political upheaval and change in mid-20th century Greece told through the wanderings of a theatrical troupe over decades, Angelopoulos' film is certainly a dense work - the film features not only a substantial roster of characters to keep straight, but also a series of time jumps across decades, a few fourth wall breaks, and heavy allegory to classical mythology (in addition to being nearly four hours long). The troupe maintains their own inner dynamic to parallel the larger social movements taking place around them, which are often depicted in the form of long, languorous takes of marches down desolate roads, small scale military skirmishes, or odd, humorous encounters that often depict the characters as floating on the winds of change rather than shaping them. But that's the incredible beauty of the film, actors that specialize in a dramatic performance taking on the role of performers in the real world - a world of dynamic change and ideals; upon death, each receive a rousing round of applause. Every one of them, fulfilling a role on the grandest stage.
Besides the thematic power, it's the distinct style of Angelopoulos that gives the film such a memorable identity. The takes are long, slow, and deliberate, but beautifully framed and far from dull. None of the characters' actions feel canned or melodramatic, and they all carry intent and relevance even in their details. There's an absolutely wonderful scene of the troupe passing by on the road only to realize that there is a lone, unclaimed chicken passing by, at which point they all wordlessly coordinate into a pincer movement, cooing at the motionless bird before moving in for the kill. Shot from above, with such a range of individual flapping their arms together in this one act of mutual benefit, is an absolute stunner.
While his name may not be a household one for casual film buffs and few of his films are commonly cited among all-time classics, Angelopoulos really should be considered among the great international filmmakers of the late 20th century. He can hypnotize you with barely a word. (4.5/5)
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
08/27/21
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s r
1001 movies to see before you die. Although it was unique for its different perspective on WW2 Greece and its subsequent issues, viewing it through a Acting Troupe was certainly different. However, it was tedious and not quite my cuppa. It was on Internet Archive.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
There is simply so much going on under the surface of this film that I am tempted to start it back from the beginning right now. I'm right on the verge of considering it a masterpiece but it's just to gargantuan to intake in one viewing. The story is wonderfully layered, organically shot and acted, and just all around bursting with little character details. This is only my second dive into Angelopoulos, but I'm surely going to jump again soon. My only minor complaint is the length can be felt harshly at times, but once the film ends and it all comes into place, you understand why it had to be this long.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Theodoros Angelopoulos' The Travelling Players tells the story about a bunch of theater performers during the period from 1939 to 1952 in which such big events as the German invasion, the partisan wars, and the Greek civil war between the US backed royalist forces against the communists. Although the players are in charge of all their plays, they cannot change the course of history, they themselves are just the audience. The Travelling Players is an interesting piece that covers most of the war period pretty well in sense of details delivered to us by both imagery and people talking directly into the camera, with all their stories about a constantly dynamic Greece.
But sadly enough, this film didn't appeal to me at all. It's too long, nearly four hours, and it doesn't actually cover the Civil War at all, which is very disappointing. And there's too many characters that we are suppose to recognize, considering there's few close-ups, thanks to all the long shots. Don't misunderstand me, I love long takes, but Angelopoulos could have made it more dynamic like Miklós Jancsó's war dramas. Overall, I kind of liked it, but it was simply too long and too theatrical. It is an orgy of missed opportunities. But I liked its political and cultural imagery enough to give this movie a marginal thumbs up.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/08/23
Full Review
Audience Member
This is a VERY big film. It encompasses the various sentiments, turmoils, and livelihoods of the Greek people for more than a decade of one of the most troubled times of the past century. It shows how some people lived and some people simply got by during fascism, invasion, occupation, and civil war. All this by following a small group of actors. It's an ambitious work and not the easiest to watch, but a brilliant film nonetheless.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
01/16/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Doesn't feel nearly as long as it is. Angelopoulos' repeated structure for his shots at times cares less about the troupe of actors in the title, and more about the historical stage they're on. That stage, Greece in the 30s through 50s, is a shifting of dominant political ideologies through which the troupe must travel, seemingly no better off despite the changes.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
02/20/23
Full Review
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