Film info

Creator / Collector

Description
We are in the center of Athens, outside the neoclassical Zappeion Megaron, south of the National Garden of the Greek capital. Its construction was financed by Evangelos Zappas and was completed in 1888. Today it functions as a conference and exhibition center. The filmmaker gives us shots of the magnificent building in length and height, so we see the Corinthian-style propylon of the main entrance, the inscription ZAPPEION on the building’s frieze as well as a composition of flowers framed by “Nikes” at the top of the main pediment.

Inside the Zappeion, there is an exhibition of the Italian painter Caravaggio whose works we have the opportunity to get a glimpse, as the camera turns. We see a panoramic shot from the peristyle of the Megaron and then we are going out of the building, where many people take a walk, among them the filmmaker's company as the rock of the Acropolis with the Parthenon is visible in the background.

A banner that says “Kids Christmas”, indicates the period of time. In the background the mountain range of Hymettus is visible. We see balloons, children's toys, newspapers in a kiosk, a lot of people in the courtyard of the Greek Parliament enjoying the sunny Christmas, children feeding the pigeons and looking at the “evzones” (=members of the Presidential Guard, a ceremonial unit that guards the Greek Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion in Athens) who stand outside their outposts, a piece of the rock of Lycabettus.

We see the traffic from passers-by, cars and buses on Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, on the corner of Panepistimiou Street and Vassileos Georgiou and the historic Grande Bretagne Hotel. In Syntagma Square, we see the traditional Christmas decoration of the Municipality with the very tall fir tree, many visitors, streetcars, trolley busees and up in the buildings’ roofs advertising signs of the companies FIX, Aspis Pronoia, Venus (Swiss watch industry) etc. Straight ahead in front of us is the best-known and busiest shopping street, Ermou.

A man, who is dressed as Santa Claus, keeps busy the little kids as we see details from the decorated tree up to the star on its top.

On Stadiou Street, we see the toy store "Panellinios Agora" that is decorated with branches, balls and lights, across of it, the department store "Tsitsopoulos Bros - Athénée" which is decorated like a castle with towers and balconies, a corner of Kolokotroni square, a kiosk with the national lottery tickets as an advertising sign, a little further down the fabric and ready-made clothing store of "Vardas-Anagnostopoulos", with a festive decoration as well.

Lastly, we see women who stare at shop windows on Panepistimiou Street.

Coordinates

Events

Film Information

Holder
Chatzidakis Georgios

Quality
HD (1440x1080)

Sound
No

Color
Yes

Format
8mm