On Monday 06 February 2023, at the Cultural Centre of Heraklion, the publication of the cassette entitled "PERIPHANI RATSA" was presented.
A documentary written and directed by George Z. Asariotakis in 1963. Exactly 60 years ago.
It is a short film dedicated to Nikos Kazantzakis, where through the spirit and the heroes of the author, it highlights the pride and culture that the Cretan people had at that time and during the period of Turkish rule.
In the script, an intellectual invites Cretan dancers and lyricists to a memorial service on the grave of N. Kazantzakis, and as he looks at them he thinks of the author's heroes such as Captain Michalis and Zorbas.
This documentary was shot entirely in Heraklion on Negatif 35 mm black and white film, with the production company "Orestis Film" and with the participation of about 80 amateurs, most of whom were from villages.
This film can be described as a documentary... on the one hand because the filming took place in well-known places of Heraklion such as the Lions, the Valide Mosque, the Venetian fortress of Koule, the tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis in Martinezgo... and also because great artists of Cretan music such as Nikos Xylouris, Vassilis Skoulas, Avyssinos, Dermitzogiannis and Nikos Sopasis appear for the first time.
Speakers on the panel were Dr. Paul Valéry-Montpellier III and President of the Greek Branch of the International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis Katerina Zographistou, the journalist Kostas Papageorgiou, Andreas Aerakis from "Seistron" Publications, the journalist Kostas Silygardos who coordinated the presentation, as well as the Managing Director of Cretanart Productions and son of the film's creator George G. Asargiotakis, the director of the film and the director of the film, George G. Asargiotakis, the director of the film and the director of the Cretanart film production, George G. Asariotakis.
Organised by Cretanart Productions
PERIPHANI RATSA | Official Movie © 1963