It has been a while since I last saw a film that had quite an impact on me.
Though that is more from the fact that I just haven't been watching a lot of things nor seeking out films that tend to be more leaning on the art house side of things. I have had such a busy time lately that watching just anything seemed nice, anything to relax to. I stumbled across Eternity and a Day online and realised I haven't seen many Greek films throughout the years, and it instantly caught my interest. What stood out was the general synopsis, alongside the film's release in the late 90s. Showing a very different type of Europe to what we know of now. This was when Eastern Europe and the former Yugoslavia region was struggling immensely, not too long after the Soviet Union's collapse, and much of Europe's small nations being rather poor. This sets up the story here in Eternity and a Day; a dying man finds himself roaming the land with a young refugee Albanian. Saved from the chaos of the streets, while also saving the old man in his slow acceptance of death.
Mostly from the perspective of character Alexandros, the film starts with his discovery of his terminal illness. A man that has already lost his wife, and has dealt with immense depression since. Once an aspiring writer, he's found himself incapable of finishing anything. In a hermit state of being rather than attempting to live. His daughter has already moved into her own adult stages of life and has a child on the way. Alexandros attempts to get a few affairs in order while claiming he has to go on a journey. Never calling this next stage the final one, but instead a journey. He hands her his dead wife's letters, which themselves are reflective on the poetic nature of life. Alexandros speaking to her in his later years, though she always appears young and full of energy in these moments. As she was when the two fell in love.
The film feeling like a fever dream in its movements and gentle form of speech. Narration that's more like a whisper. Characters that slowly move around the environments that are often visible with decay and neglect. Ghosts of the past that remain. This dreamy feeling to the film is met with the harshness of reality. The threat of human traffickers and immense suffering. Though these events and the story of the child have Alexandros on his own unexpected journey through the nation. Witnessing various forms of life, from weddings to the snowy border crossings. Aspects of life and culture in the old streets and buildings. Slowly reviving the life within Alexandros, no longer feeling numb to the world but rather impressed by it. Now inspired again. Even in these moments, the film continues to drag, to be slow in its movements, rarely with much sound. There's usually muted sounds from the surroundings or a more dominant one that emphasises the events taking place.
It's these moments where nothing is being said. The camera just moves around the environment and shows how people move within that space as well. This constant passing of time and motion. Where there's always something going on. It's incredibly beautiful in how the cinematography works alongside the story, with how it manages to juggle the very nature of life itself with the pacing of a story; the moments where there are ups and downs throughout. This is seen with how Alexandros finds himself all over, and how slowly but surely, the smiles return. Less so with visible sadness in the eyes. More content. More appreciative of the life that is unfolding around him, and how he also has a part in it all. The poetry narration continues throughout, primarily over such moments. There's sadness and beauty in how they're read. A still tone. A gentle whisper again.
I found this film to be incredibly beautiful. It's simple. Alexandros is known for his journeys, but less so in recent years. Though this film is probably his most important. A journey of self-discovery yet again as this is effectively his last day of freedom before heading off to the hospital for additional tests and the resulting attempts at treatment. In some ways, this is his last true day. And he slowly makes the most of it. There's a little more to the story, but it's not something I'll be fully writing about here as to not spoil the whole thing.