Hungarian film producer works with Greek director
Co-productions seem to be the only way to go, at least according to Hungarian film producer Aron Sipos, whose credits include Peter Greenaway’s trilogy «The Tulse Luper Suitcases.» Sipos is also taking part in the production of Dimitris Giatzoutzakis’s new feature film, «I Kakosmia tis Omorfias» (The Stench of Beauty). In Athens recently, the producer participated in a meeting on the subject of promoting European film co-productions, organized by the Greek Film Producers Association (SAPOE). «There is no other solution for European cinema. We must venture outside our own boundaries and think of Europe. More and more films should be made through co-productions. We have to think of an ‘extended family’,» said Sipos in an interview with Kathimerini. What about problems of cooperation? «We were seven producers in Greenaway’s trilogy. The only problem we came across was a temporary cash flow shortage. Nothing else,» said Sipos. Does Greenaway’s «difficult» cinema reflect the director’s personality? «Not at all,» said the producer. «He is the easiest person to work with because he knows exactly what he wants. If there is a budget problem, for instance, he knows how to adjust. He has clear vision and imagination.» As for his collaboration with the Greek director, Sipos noted that the story was very interesting, a fairy tale with great potential. The cast is led by two Hungarian actresses, Erika Marozsan and Athina Papadimitriou (of Greek origin). The cinematographer and special-effects specialist are also Hungarian. According to the director, the film is an allegory on the gap between this generation and that of World War II. In the movie, an attractive and ruthless Greek pop star is the presenter of a television show that organizes wedding ceremonies all over the country. During a shoot in a small town inhabited by the restless souls of an unjust execution during the German occupation, a woman’s spirit tries to enter the lead character, trying to be freed. Shooting begins in September.
