Last week’s Yparho, a biographical film chronicling the life of iconic Greek singer Stelios Kazantzidis, made a remarkable debut in Greek cinemas. Selling approximately 120,000 tickets within just four days, it equaled the impressive box office performance of Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” in Greece, a signal that Yparho is poised to remain in the Greek movie theaters for some time.
As the cinematic calendar closes for the year, this week’s releases are limited but diverse, offering something for every moviegoer.
Babygirl (2024)
Still frame from Babygirl (2024).
In a bold performance that has garnered critical acclaim, Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman stars as Romy in Dutch director Halina Reijn’s erotic drama. Romy, a high-powered CEO who appears to have it all, is married to a loving and supportive husband (Antonio Banderas) and is the mother of two vibrant teenage daughters. She also heads her own company, a “next-level Amazon.” However, beneath her seemingly perfect life, Romy battles an insatiable desire for the kind of sexuality that defies her rigid control.
When a much younger intern (Harris Dickinson) joins her company, Romy, overwhelmed by lust, enters a perilous affair that threatens her career, family and carefully constructed world.
Director: Halina Reijn
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, Antonio Banderas
Language: English
IMDB rating: 6.4/10
Production country: United States
Where to watch: Cinobo Opera, Mikrokosmos, Danaos, Cinemax (Nirvana, Aello, Nana, Kifissia), Aigli 3D digital, Diana, Tria Asteria 3D digital, Village cinemas (The Mall, Pangrati, Rentis, Metro Mall), Sporting digital cinema, Lampros Konstantars movie Theater, WestCity cinemas, Options Cinemas (Glyfada, Ilion), Varkiza
Animal Tales of Christmas Magic (Le grand Noël des animaux, 2024)
Six female directors from across the globe unite to create this enchanting anthology of animated tales. “Animal Tales of Christmas Magic” is a hand-crafted collage of stories where festive wonders abound. Animals embark on spellbinding journeys, traversing landscapes from France to Japan and the snow-covered Far North under the aurora borealis.
These heartwarming and modern tales, suitable for audiences of all ages, celebrate the spirit of joy, generosity, and the beauty of the winter season. Each whimsical adventure is filled with charm, laughter, and poetic visuals, transporting viewers to a world where Christmas magic knows no bounds.
Directors: Caroline Attia, Ceylan Beyoğlu, Olesya Schchukina, Haruna Kishi, Camille Alméras, Natalia Chernysheva
Cast: N/A
Language: English (dubbed in Greek in local cinemas)
IMDB rating: 6.9/10
Production countries: France, Germany
Where to watch: Cinobo Opera, Galaxias, Danaos, Aigli 3D digital, Cinemax (Aello, Nana), Village cinemas (The Mall, Pangrati, Rentis, Metro Mall), Municipal cinema Aliki, Options Cinemas (Glyfada, Ilion)
Universal theory (Die Theorie von Allem, 2022)
German director Timm Kröger’s metaphysical noir explores the concept of multiverses in a gripping and atmospheric narrative that draws inspiration from German expressionism. The story follows a young postgraduate student who attends a physics symposium at a secluded Swiss Alps resort, hoping to advance his academic career and complete his thesis.
At the conference, he meets Karin, an enigmatic jazz pianist with an uncanny knowledge of his childhood. As their connection deepens, he is drawn into a web of mysteries involving underground tunnels, radioactivity, and unsettling duplicates of people.
Director: Timm Kröger
Cast: Jan Bülow, Olivia Ross, Hanns Zischler, Gottfried Breitfuss, David Bennent, Philippe Graber
Language: German, French, Swiss German (with Greek subtitles)
IMDB rating: 6.1/10
Production country: Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Where to watch: Newman cinema, Zea cinema
The Super Elfkins (2024)
The animated adventure “The Super Elfkins” introduces Elfie, whose world is turned upside down upon discovering a technologically advanced Elfkin gang. Unlike her own traditional clan, this new group is renowned for their thrill-seeking escapades and cutting-edge innovations.
Through her friendship with Bo, the youngest member of the gang, Elfie embarks on a mission to bridge the centuries-old divide between the two Elfkin clans. The film is based on the feature film “The Elfkins – Baking a Difference” and inspired by the classic German saga and poem by August Kopisch.
Director: Ute von Münchow-Pohl
Cast:Jella Haase, Leon Seidel, Lanski Annette, Paul Pizzera, Michael Ostrowski, Cesar Sampson
Language: German (dubbed in Greek)
IMDB rating: 6.2/10
Production countries: Germany, Austria
Where to watch: Galaxias cinema, Cinemax (Nirvana, Aello, Nana, Kifissia), Avana, Village cinemas (The Mall, Pangrati, Rentis, Metro Mall), Sporting digital cinema, Lampros Konstantars movie Theater, WestCity cinemas, Options Cinemas (Glyfada, Ilion), Municipal cinema Cineac
