Nikos Panayotopoulos

Directing

Nikos Panayotopoulos

Born 1941-11-06 · Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece

Nikos Panayotopoulos was born on November 6, 1941, in Mytilene, Greece. He studied film making in Athens and started his career as an assistant director in Greek and foreign productions. In 1960-1973 he lived in Paris where he attended film courses at the filmology institute of Sorbonne. In 1973 he returned to Athens. His first film The Color of Iris (1974) ("The Colours of Iris") was the most unexpected creation of the New Greek Cinema. Since then he lived and worked there, and his beloved wife Marianna Spanoudakis, always by his side, participated faithfully in all of his productions, mainly as a costume designer and also as producer and actress. Since 1974 he wrote and directed films, with a special narrative style in a thematic approach that deals with issues such as erotic delusion and deterioration of human relations. His films have participated in national and international festivals and have received important distinctions and prizes. His death came just a few weeks after the release of his film Rembrandt's Daughter (2015) ("Rembrandt's Daughter").

Acting credits

Lisa and the Other One poster
NR

Close-ups and medium fixed camera shots of a man dressed in Liza Minelli’ clothes, who mimes to a recording of the music hall song “Life is a Cabaret”. In the soundtrack, the iconical reading of a text exposing the ideological clichés of a family soap opera in a state of crisis. “My little boy, alas, is gay…”.

Lisa and the Other One

1976

Directing Hell poster
5.5

A Documentary about Nikos Nikolaidis' work. Nikos Nikolaidis was an acclaimed film director and author from Greece. He is famous for creating controversial characters in his films that have a rebellious attitude towards the social and political status quo. He illustrates a dark and pessimistic present and future, but also providing ambiguous hope for the end when his heroes find their escape in death. His films are shocking and contentious, raising questions during times when political visions start to fade away. His filming was poetic, dynamic and aesthetically beautiful in order to present situations on edge and elicit his audience's feelings. The aim of this project is to transfer his dynamics in a documentary that will convey some of his messages and create a platform for exchanging opinions among filmmakers from all over the world, in an effort to decipher his universe and his symbols as reflections of his unique and rare personality.

Directing Hell

2011

To Each Their Voice: Theo Angelopoulos & Nikos Panayotopoulos poster
NR

In the mid-80s, Aegokeros publishing house intended to publish a magazine about film and the theater. Theo Angelopoulos and Nikos Panayotopoulos had been chosen by the editorial board for the first issue. A summer evening at Angelopoulos house in the Mati area, Antonis Kokkinos and Yannis Soldatos recorded a three-hour interview between Theo and Nikos, within the frameworks set for them, in order to be included in the magazine. The interview brought to the fore their common course, even though completely opposite from one point onward. Thirty-five years later, the unpublished conversation has been found; both the tapes and the transcripts! This conversation stands as a valuable manifestation of the creators’ views regarding their own, until then, existing and future work, as well as a thorough insight into the New Greek Cinema, and into World Cinema in general.

To Each Their Voice: Theo Angelopoulos & Nikos Panayotopoulos

2023

Behind the camera

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Athens - Istanbul

2008

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Athens - Istanbul

2008

The Woman Who Dreamed poster
7.3

Something changes in the relationship of Achilleas and Anna when she starts to dream vividly and insists on relating her dreams to her husband. He is a barrister in the middle of an important murder trial and his temper becomes frayed with Anna's seeming indifference and involvement and preoccupation with her dream world.

The Woman Who Dreamed

1988

The Woman Who Dreamed poster
7.3

Something changes in the relationship of Achilleas and Anna when she starts to dream vividly and insists on relating her dreams to her husband. He is a barrister in the middle of an important murder trial and his temper becomes frayed with Anna's seeming indifference and involvement and preoccupation with her dream world.

The Woman Who Dreamed

1988

Varieté poster
5.0

An actor's troupe puts up a variety show.

Varieté

1985

Varieté poster
5.0

An actor's troupe puts up a variety show.

Varieté

1985

Edge of Night poster
6.4

Stella is a beautiful young girl who dreams of becoming one day a famous singer. Her boyfriend Andreas leads a quiet life working at his small store, and doesn't approve Stella's quest for fame. When she decides to leave Athens for a singing job offered to her somewhere in north Greece, Andreas sets off on a quest to find her again and convince her to come back to him

Edge of Night

2000

Edge of Night poster
6.4

Stella is a beautiful young girl who dreams of becoming one day a famous singer. Her boyfriend Andreas leads a quiet life working at his small store, and doesn't approve Stella's quest for fame. When she decides to leave Athens for a singing job offered to her somewhere in north Greece, Andreas sets off on a quest to find her again and convince her to come back to him

Edge of Night

2000

The Colors of Iris poster
6.4

A mysterious disappearance takes place during the shooting of a commercial on the beach in the early morning hours. An unknown man suddenly comes into the shot, then walks into the sea holding an umbrella and seizes to exist, before the bewildered eyes of the whole crew. After the police are notified, a confusing array of red tape manoeuvers begins, revealing the close affiliations of the Authorities with the advertising company manager and the whole mechanism of Mass Media, all of which are trying not to investigate the event but to conceal or even exploit it in their own interest. Only the musician involved in that commercial is trying to figure out what really happened.

The Colors of Iris

1974

The Colors of Iris poster
6.4

A mysterious disappearance takes place during the shooting of a commercial on the beach in the early morning hours. An unknown man suddenly comes into the shot, then walks into the sea holding an umbrella and seizes to exist, before the bewildered eyes of the whole crew. After the police are notified, a confusing array of red tape manoeuvers begins, revealing the close affiliations of the Authorities with the advertising company manager and the whole mechanism of Mass Media, all of which are trying not to investigate the event but to conceal or even exploit it in their own interest. Only the musician involved in that commercial is trying to figure out what really happened.

The Colors of Iris

1974

The Idlers of the Fertile Valley poster
6.3

A wealthy member of the upper classes and his three sons withdraw to a country villa where they spend their days in complete idleness, having everything done for them by their young and beautiful maid. They surrender to the pleasure of sleep, while idleness permeates the tiny world of these living dead, with the exception of the woman who is the sole representative of positive values, will-power and action. Finally, the youngest son will try to break free.

The Idlers of the Fertile Valley

1978

The Idlers of the Fertile Valley poster
6.3

A wealthy member of the upper classes and his three sons withdraw to a country villa where they spend their days in complete idleness, having everything done for them by their young and beautiful maid. They surrender to the pleasure of sleep, while idleness permeates the tiny world of these living dead, with the exception of the woman who is the sole representative of positive values, will-power and action. Finally, the youngest son will try to break free.

The Idlers of the Fertile Valley

1978

The Limousine poster
5.0

Three friends from 60s Paris attempt a road trip to modern-day Greece, looping in and out of fantasy and questioning absolutely everything. A situation comedy and a coming-of-age fairy tale or, according to the director himself, "a film that can be heard". Starring Nikos Kouris, Doukissa Nomikou, Dimitris Katalifos and Pavlos Haikalis. Lifetime Achievement Award to Nikos Panagiotopoulos

The Limousine

2014

The Limousine poster
5.0

Three friends from 60s Paris attempt a road trip to modern-day Greece, looping in and out of fantasy and questioning absolutely everything. A situation comedy and a coming-of-age fairy tale or, according to the director himself, "a film that can be heard". Starring Nikos Kouris, Doukissa Nomikou, Dimitris Katalifos and Pavlos Haikalis. Lifetime Achievement Award to Nikos Panagiotopoulos

The Limousine

2014

Dying in Athens poster
3.8

Andreas, an Art History Professor at the Athens School of Fine Arts, is involved both with a sexy intellectual French-Greek woman and a young student of his despite being in love with his beautiful wife. When he finds out he has leukemia and only a few months to live, he decides to keep it a secret but also to talk to the women in his life about his infidelity.

Dying in Athens

2006

Dying in Athens poster
3.8

Andreas, an Art History Professor at the Athens School of Fine Arts, is involved both with a sexy intellectual French-Greek woman and a young student of his despite being in love with his beautiful wife. When he finds out he has leukemia and only a few months to live, he decides to keep it a secret but also to talk to the women in his life about his infidelity.

Dying in Athens

2006

Delivery poster
4.9

Young man arrives in Athens to seek his fortune.

Delivery

2004

Delivery poster
4.9

Young man arrives in Athens to seek his fortune.

Delivery

2004

I Dream of My Friends poster
5.0

Four episodes, four instances from a man’s life covering 25 years, from 1965 in Germany to 1990 in Athens. The episodes seem to be irrelevant to one another, yet they all focus on male powerplay, reveal the self-consciousness and moderation of the protagonist’s idiosyncrasy and depict some special aspects of the Greek male mentality. Probably Nikos Panayotopoulos’ most personal film, covering a substantial period of his generation’s years, “I’m dreaming of my friends” is based on the book by Dimitris Nollas, looks a lot like a “road movie” and features an all-male cast, as if there’s no room for women in it.

I Dream of My Friends

1993

I Dream of My Friends poster
5.0

Four episodes, four instances from a man’s life covering 25 years, from 1965 in Germany to 1990 in Athens. The episodes seem to be irrelevant to one another, yet they all focus on male powerplay, reveal the self-consciousness and moderation of the protagonist’s idiosyncrasy and depict some special aspects of the Greek male mentality. Probably Nikos Panayotopoulos’ most personal film, covering a substantial period of his generation’s years, “I’m dreaming of my friends” is based on the book by Dimitris Nollas, looks a lot like a “road movie” and features an all-male cast, as if there’s no room for women in it.

I Dream of My Friends

1993

The Bachelor poster
5.5

The story of a thirties bank employee whose wife becomes a luxury prostitute. The same would happen with the next woman who knows. Xouan a promoter says he belongs to a particular class of people and asks him to work together.

The Bachelor

1997

The Bachelor poster
5.5

The story of a thirties bank employee whose wife becomes a luxury prostitute. The same would happen with the next woman who knows. Xouan a promoter says he belongs to a particular class of people and asks him to work together.

The Bachelor

1997

Beautiful People poster
6.5

A successful model abandons the world of fashion to marry her beloved. A little before the wedding, their relationship goes through a serious crisis, when they meet a wealthy and enigmatic man.

Beautiful People

2001

Beautiful People poster
6.5

A successful model abandons the world of fashion to marry her beloved. A little before the wedding, their relationship goes through a serious crisis, when they meet a wealthy and enigmatic man.

Beautiful People

2001