L (Learning) is a 2011 Greek comedy-drama film directed by Babis Makridis in his debut, and written by Makridis and Efthymis Filippou, based on an original idea by Yorgos Giokas. It stars Aris Servetalis as a 40 year old man whose life rapidly changes over the course of a single day.
Makridis had previously produced a short film, The Last Fakir (2005), which received the Newcomer's Prize at the 2005 International Short Film Festival in Drama. L, his first feature film, was the first Greek selection to compete at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival (19–29 January 2012) where its international premiere took place. It was also nominated to compete in the official Tiger Awards competition in the International Film Festival Rotterdam (25 January – 5 February 2012). The film was nominated for Best Script award at the Hellenic Film Academy Awards. A six-minute extract was first released at the Work Progress Section of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, at the Czech Republic in July 2011.
Plot
A Man lives in his car. He is 40 years old and although he does not have a lot of free time, when he does, he chooses to spend it with his family. He meets his wife and two children at a specified day and time in car parking lots. His job is to locate and bring the finest honey to a 50-year-old man. A New Driver shows up and the Man gets fired. The Man's life changes and he finds it absurd that no one trusts him anymore.
Cast
Aris Servetalis as the Man
Makis Papadimitriou as the Black Rider
Yannis Bostantzoglou as the Boss
Eleftherios Matthaios as The Bear
Nota Tserniafski as the Wife
Stavros Raptis as the Friend
Thanassis Dimou as the New Driver
Christoforos Skamnakis as the Yachtsman
Pavlos Makridis as the Son
Natalia Tserniafski as the Daughter
Alexis Kanakis as Motorbiker
Antonis Iliakis as Meteor
Production
Filming
Filming took place during March and April 2011 in outdoor locations in Attica, Greece and additional filming took place at the end of July 2011. Filming was concluded within 27 days.
Technical information
The movie was filmed in 35mm with an Arriflex BL camera, is 87 minutes long, in colour, sound Dolby SRD, language Greek with English subtitles, 1:85:1 format, edited in Avid.
Production credentials
Directed, by Babis Makridis
Script, Efthymis Filippou Babis Makridis, based on an original idea by Yorgos Giokas about a man who lives in his car Location Manager, Dimitris Chalkiadakis Line Producer, Yorgos Papadimitriou Sets, Dafni Kalogianni Costumes, Dimitris Papathomas Sound, Stefanos Efthimiou Mixing/Sound Design, Costas Fylaktidis Music, Coti K Editor, Yannis Chalkiadakis Director of Photography, Thimios Bakatakis Executive Producer, Peter Carlton, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos Production, Beben Films (Amanda Livanou, Babis Makridis) Co Production, NOVA, Feelgood Entertainment, Faliro House Productions, Top Cut, Modiano S.A., Dennis Iliadis, Efthymis Filippou, Yannis Chalkiadakis, Thimios Bakatakis, Yorgos Papadimitriou, Dimitris Papathomas, in association with Warp Films and the support of the Greek Film Center.
Release and distribution
The movie was released in Greek movie theaters in February 2012 by Feelgood Entertainment movie distribution company.