Her "I Am full of LIFE!!!" shtick got overbearing in the first minute and a half of the movie. From beginning to end she is definitely full of something.
shareThe movie is made up entirely of Greek stereotypes and pretty much dares the audience not to congratulate the filmmakers for it. It's pretty thin stuff, but I enjoyed it just the same.
shareThat's fair that you find her exuberance too much. I myself was enchanted by Melina Mercouri's prsence. I am a type of person who likes being seduced.
share I am a type of person who likes being seduced.
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By a woman Mr. H???😕
I haven't seen this film; but I know what you mean about being seduced by the 'intangible' life-affirming qualities, her character appears to represent.
Hey Rascal -- Yes, it's all about her huge spirit and passion that attracts me to her so strongly. I'm not the least bit physically attracted to Miss Mercouri, masculine in her appearance though she is somewhat.
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IMO, this thread AND many of the others, makes the mistake of viewing this film as if it's realistic, some variation of a slice-of-life drama.
MY view is that it's NOT AT ALL intended to be taken that way --that while it purports to be a somewhat realistic drama, it's really a take-off on a fable or fairy-tale.
Below is a copy of my post arguing this point of view that I made in the thread: "My problems with this film"
I agree with PoppyTransfusion and bluesdoctor. "Never On Sunday" wasn't intended to present a slice-of-life drama or to be realistic. Instead, it's to be viewed as kind of a modern version of an Aesopian fable, in which its moral is: don't try to change another person's life to fit your standards or make you more comfortable; you won't succeed and you have a big enough job integrating your own life and values to live comfortably.
Besides, there's a lot that seemed unrealistic to me (but which fits nicely with the fable perspective):
Would any prostitute only take on men she liked and let them set the price? Could she possibly service THAT large a male following (as shown)? While there's often some trauma in their backgrounds that lead women into this, nothing of Ilya's pre-hooker life is shown.
Could ANY person studying Shakespeare's plays + Greek philosophies + classical music + fine arts + geography + world history + the sciences for JUST 12 DAYS be that transformed? [As a beginning college student, I was mystified why people liked modern art (including Picasso) -- it took me a 1 semester course (3 hr.) on art history + a 3 hr. sequel on modern art before I finally joined their fold.]
In my therapy work (clinical psychologist) I saw maybe 5-7 former prostitutes -- all of whom had problems transitioning from sex as a business chore to sex in an enjoyable, loving single relationship.
Granted, these were obviously women with problems -- former prostitutes without problems have no reason to seek therapy. [But many surveys of sex workers indicate most do have psychological traumas & problems (and any suggestion of that was absent in this film)].
So, IMO, it's FAR better viewed as a "fable" with an obvious moral -- or as an "un-Grimm" 😁Fairy Tale.
Not at all. It wasn't supposed to be a shtick, but a representation
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