High Season (1987)

Nice effects though.

A Disappointing Continuation

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

We were staying in Lindos when they were making this film. There was a poster up in the village square asking for people to be extras. Unfortunately it was for the week after we left so couldn't do it. Most, if not all, of the cast and crew were staying in the village. Never got to meet Jacqueline Bisset, but stood behind James Fox one day, in a little shop where he was buying fresh beef tomatoes and bread, amongst other things. Was too in awe of a famous film star to say hello. Have to give this film 10/10, if for nothing else than whenever I watch it it brings back wonderful memories of one of our best Summer holidays ever.

High Season is a film to be viewed over and over. It's like a trip to the Greek Islands. The element of crime, along with the "love-gone-wrong" factor, the elegance and charm of Jackie Bisset, and of course, the unapologetically gorgeous setting of the Agean Sea, all lend a magical air to this film. It will appeal to anyone who had ever been to the islands. One can almost smell the heady marine breezes billowing about. Kenneth Branagh adds that touch of "Duh?" and his mousey whiney wife is the perfect foil. When he becomes enamored of Jackie he is has all the charm of a besotted fish! but he's still in character. The fact that Jackie's character fails to capture in her photo journal The Light of Greece, only emphasizes the fact that Greece is to be experienced, NOT read about or understood through pictures. Clare Peploe is pure genius with this film. It's a constant treat!

Terrifically fun movie from the 1980s starring a beautiful Jacqueline Bisset as a photographer dealing with personal and monetary problems, though her story is woven among several other subplots involving Kenneth Branagh (in an early and funny turn), James Fox (having emerged from a self-imposed retirement), Irene Papas (as a hilariously traditional Greek mother who hates the encroachment of tourism and modernism but has a penchant for lipstick and other modern beauty products), along with Sebastian Shaw (the original Anakin Skywalker from "Return of the Jedi"--look him up). The location is luminous--so much so that it prompted me to go out of my way and travel to Lindos a few years ago. It's a jewel of a town, on the southern side of the island of Rhodes, with a castle ruin overlooking whitewashed buildings and fluorescent blue waters. Might not be on the level of "Annie Hall", but a fun, diverting movie nonetheless.

We originally bought this film to market it as a film oddity...Kenneth Branagh's only nude role. I then throughly enjoyed the Cinematography, the beautiful Landscapes, and the delightful acting job done by Irene Papas. The comedy is subtle it is really a combination of a drama and comedy...a dramedy. Peploe does a nice job bringing interesting characters to the screen. So much so that when Lesley Manville's character makes a mistake you want to cuss her out and when Irene Papas' character pulls some outrageous stunts near the end you can laugh and cheer her on as much as the Greek villagers did in the film. The film does a really nice job conveying the adventure of travelling and will be enjoyed most by people who have traveled some...and of course should also be enjoyed by Islanders of all sorts!