Enjoy the Mandolin, AGAIN, and AGAIN

About the film Captain Corelli's Mandolin

The idyllic beauty of Greece's Mediterranean coast has been invaded by Italy, bringing legions of soldiers to the once tranquil, magical island of Kephalonia. Captain Antonio Corelli (played by Nicholas Cage),  an officer with an irrepressibly jovial personality and passion for the mandolin, initially alienates a number of the villagers, including Pelagia. The daughter of the village doctor, Pelagia (played by Penelope Cruz) is an educated and strong-willed woman, and while at first offended by the Italian soldier's behavior, she slowly warms to his certain charms as they are forced to share her father's home. When Pelagia's fiancee, a local fisherman, heads off to war, the friendship between Antonio and Pelagia grows even stronger. Her beauty and intelligence have captured his heart, and his fondness for the village's vibrant community causes him to question his reasons for fighting. Antonio becomes a part of the lives of the villagers, but the moment is fleeting. As the war grows ever closer, Antonio and Pelagia are forced to choose between their allegiance to their countries and the love they feel for one another-a love which must overcome tremendous odds, and endure the inevitable sacrifice which accompanies eternal devotion.

Source: Written by Sujit R. Varma http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0238112/plotsummary

 

go smell the coffee

Movies don’t only make stars of actors; they can make great advertisements for destinations. Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy had a phenomenal impact on tourism in his native New Zealand, and the Greek island of Cephallonia enjoyed a surge in visitors following the big screen adaptation of bestselling book Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
Greece looks set to enjoy another tourist boom this summer with the release of Mamma Mia!, the ABBA musical set on a Greek island, and My Life in Ruins, the first feature film granted permission to shoot at the Parthenon. Much of My Life in Ruins was actually filmed in Alicante, Spain, where production costs are cheaper, but the Greek tourist board is hoping movie-goers won’t spot the difference.
After all, Montenegro became hip overnight after Casino Royale, even though the scenes in question were filmed in the Czech Republic.
No matter how cheesy, a movie that features ABBA’s anthems is sure to be a feel-good hit. Mamma Mia!
(released on 11 July) stars Meryl Streep as Donna Sheridan, who is forced to confront her wayward past when three ex-lovers show up for her daughter’s wedding on a Greek island. Director Phyllida Lloyd scoured the country by helicopter to find the perfect island locations, finally choosing Skopelos and Skiathos, renowned for their pristine beaches fringed by pine forests. Teenage girls descended on the islands en masse last September, hoping for a glimpse of Colin Firth or Pierce Brosnan. While most of the film’s stars stayed at the swanky Skiathos Palace Hotel overlooking sandy Koukounaries Bay, ABBA’s Benny and Björn holed up on a huge yacht to keep the paparazzi at bay. From cosmopolitan Skiathos, take a short trip by ferry or hydrofoil to sleepier Skopelos. Go for a dip at Kastani beach, where Donna’s beach bar stood. Recapture the film’s romance by climbing the steep steps to Agios Ioannis chapel, where the wedding scene was shot. The Agnanti restaurant (+30 24240 33076, agnanti-rest.gr) in nearby Glossa has been serving inventive cuisine since 1953. The cast and crew partied at the Adrina Beach Hotel taverna (+30 24240 23373, adrina.gr), where the hot dish is spaghetti with lobster. After hours, head for Platanos Jazz Bar (+30 24240 23661) in Skopelos town, where Brosnan enjoyed a beer or two.

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