Nine New Films and a Special Screening Land in Athens Cinemas This Week

The Last Breath (Le Dernier Soufflé, 2024)

Costa-Gavras, the acclaimed Greek-French director, explores uncharted territory in The Last Breath, a deeply personal and thought-provoking film. The story follows an intellectual writer (Denis Podalydès) and a seasoned oncologist (Kad Merad) as they engage in intense discussions about illness, mortality, and the human experience. Gavras’ camera moves with bold curiosity through hospital corridors and patient rooms, capturing the emotional and ethical dimensions of facing cancer. Inspired by the book of the same name by philosopher Régis Debray and doctor Claude Grange, the film offers a compelling look into the lives of individuals in palliative care.

Director: Costa-Gavras
Cast: Denis Podalydès, Kad Merad, Marilyne Canto
Language: French
IMDB rating: 6.5/10
Production country: France
Where to watch: The Greek Film Archive, Elli, Cinobo Opera, Cinemax (Kifissia, Nirvana), Tria Asteria 3D digital, Sporting digital cinema, Anoixi art cinema, Options cinemas, Zea cinema

Giannis in the Cities (Tholos Vythos, 2024)

Greek director Eleni Alexandrakis presents Giannis in the Cities, a poignant drama set in 1949 at the end of the Greek Civil War. The story follows young Giannis, the son of a rebel, who is taken from his village and placed in the so-called Childcare Cities, where he is promised an education. Instead, he faces a rigid institution that manipulates ideals and dreams. Inspired by the autobiographical works Diplomena Ftera and Tholos Vythos by Giannis Atzakas, the film premiered at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival.

Director: Eleni Alexandrakis
Cast: Philippos Milikas, Marios Konstantinos Gatetzas, Konstantinos Athanassakis, Aineias Tsamatis
Language: Greek (with English subtitles)
IMDB rating: 6.5/10
Production country: Greece
Where to watch: The Greek Film Archive, Newman cinema, Diana cinema

Hunt (Kynigi, 2024)

Premiering at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and nominated for the Golden Alexander Award, Hunt is the second feature film from Greek director Christos Pitharas. The story follows Yannis, a reclusive craftsman who finds solace in hunting birds and making jewelry. When he discovers that his neighbor Elias is abusing his dog, tensions rise. As Yannis’ mental state deteriorates following his estranged mother’s death, his inevitable confrontation with Elias takes a dark turn.

Director: Christos Pitharas
Cast: Yannis Belis, Vasilis Anastasiou, Meletis Georgiadis, Vasiliki Deliou, Sotiris Tsakomidis, Chrysa Aggelopoulou, Kostis Tsakomidis
Language: Greek
IMDB rating: 7.7/10
Production country: Greece
Where to watch: Cinobo Opera, Danaos cinema, Diana cinema, Nana

The New Year That Never Came (Anul Nou Care N-a Fost, 2024)

Romanian director Bogdan Mureșanu makes his feature debut with this gripping historical drama set during the December 1989 uprisings that led to the fall of the communist regime. Six lives intersect in the midst of civil unrest, culminating in the explosive downfall of Nicolae Ceaușescu. Premiering at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in September 2024, the film received the prestigious Orizzonti Award for Best Film.

Director: Bogdan Mureșanu
Cast: Adrian Văncică, Nicoleta Hâncu, Iulian Postelnicu, Mihai Călin, Emilia Dobrin, Andrei Miercure
Language: Romanian
IMDB rating: 8.3/10
Production country: Romania
Where to watch: Cinobo Opera, Galaxias cinema, Diana cinema, Cinobo Patission, Varkiza cinema

2073 (2024)

British filmmaker Asif Kapadia, best known for his Oscar-winning documentary Amy, returns with 2073, a docudrama inspired by Chris Marker’s 1962 featurette La Jetée. The film follows a time traveler who risks everything to alter the course of history and save humanity’s future.

Director: Asif Kapadia
Cast: Samantha Morton, Naomi Ackie, Hector Hewer
Language: English
IMDB rating: 5.1/10
Production country: United Kingdom
Where to watch: Newman cinema

Presence (2024)

Steven Soderbergh’s supernatural thriller centers on a family of four who moves into a suburban home, only to sense an eerie presence lurking within. As unexplained events escalate, they must confront the sinister forces at play.

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, Eddy Maday, West Mulholland, Julia Fox
Language: English
IMDB rating: 6.6/10
Production country: United States
Where to watch: Aigli cinema, Village cinemas, Tria asteria, Aello, Elize, Nana, WestCity cinemas, Muinicipal cinema Cineac, Options cinemas

Cleaner (2025)

In this action-packed thriller, a group of extremist activists hijacks a gala, taking 300 hostages. One of them plans a mass execution as a message to the world. An ex-soldier, now working as a window cleaner, steps in to rescue the captives in a high-stakes battle against time.

Director: Martin Campbell
Cast: Daisy Ridley, Taz Skylar, Clive Owen
Language: English
IMDB rating: N/A
Production country: United Kingdom
Where to watch: Village cinemas, Aello, Nana, Sporting digital cinema, Anoixi art cinema, Lampros Konstantaras cinema, Options cinemas

The Monkey (2025)

Based on Stephen King’s 1980 short story, The Monkey is the latest horror film from Osgood Perkins. The story follows twin brothers Bill and Hal, who uncover their father’s old toy monkey in the attic. Soon after, a series of gruesome deaths unfolds. As the brothers attempt to rid themselves of the cursed toy, their lives take unexpected turns.

Director: Osgood Perkins
Cast: Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery, Colin O’Brien, Rohan Campbell, Sarah Levy, Adam Scott, Elijah Wood
Language: English
IMDB rating: 6.8/10
Production country: United States
Where to watch: Cinobo opera, Galaxias cinema, Village cinemas, Aello, Nana, Sporting digital cinema, Foivos digital cinema, Lampros Konstantaras cinema, Options cinemas

Attack on Titan: The Last Attack (2024)

In this highly anticipated installment of the Attack on Titan saga, Eren harnesses the ultimate power of the Titans to annihilate those threatening Eldia. Leading an unstoppable army of Colossal Titans, he marches toward Marley, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance.

Director:Yûichirô Hayashi
Cast: Natsuki Hanae, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Marina Inoue, Yui Ishikawa, Hiroshi Kamiya, Yûki Kaji,Hiroshi Kamiya
Language: English
IMDB rating: 9.3/10
Production country: Japan
Where to watch: Village cinemas, Options cinemas

A Special Screening at the Hellenic American Union

As part of Black History Month, the Hellenic American Union (HAU) presents the Oscar-winning film Places in the Heart (1984) on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 19:00, with free admission.

Robert Benton’s classic drama was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won two: Best Actress for Sally Field—known for her unforgettable acceptance speech—and Best Original Screenplay for Benton.

Set during the Great Depression in 1933, the film follows a widow (Sally Field) struggling to save her farm from foreclosure while raising her two children. With the help of a wandering Black man (Danny Glover) and a blind boarder (John Malkovich), she confronts the prejudice and hardships of the time.

The film will be screened with Greek subtitles.