Hailing responses after AGORA’s first broadcast by German Public Television WDR

Particularly welcoming responses in the German Press followed the first broadcast of AGORΑ by German Public Television WDR whereas viewers shared their spontaneous praises and reflections in the social media.

“Perhaps #Varoufakis could invite #Schäuble to view @gavgero’s @agorathedoc together @WDR” was suggested via Twitter on the very same day that the finance ministers of Greece and Germany met in Berlin; it was also the day of the German broadcast premiere of the film. A thorough overview by Diogenis Dimitrakopoulos at Deutsche Welle reflects on the impact of this first broadcast of the film in Germany and presents the views of director Yorgos Avgeropoulos and the head of the Documentary Film Department of WDR, Jutta Krug who stated: “By broadcasting AGORA we hope to contribute to a differentiated and multifaceted examination of the Greek problem, in other words to present a point of view coming from within, whose dynamics have a major historical dimension. We wanted to give an alternative dimension to a particularly complex topic and we have been rewarded. This is really what public television is meant for. What government politics think about it is a secondary issue”.

Haus des Dokumentarfilms in Stuttgart published a glorifying critical overview of the film: “It is perhaps the most important documentary film of the year” according to Thomas Schneider, who focused on the humanitarian aspects of the crisis that has plagued Greece in the last four years. On the German website of critical views NachDenkSeiten, Orlando Pascheit commented: “It would be nice if our government team would take the time to look at such films in order not to lose touch with reality – in order to remember that the aim of its policy is to prevent such conditions instead of causing them”.

Prominent Greek-French film director Costa-Gavras also honoured Yorgos Avgeropoulos with a poignant commentary about both the film and the contemporary Greek tragedy: “I watched your film with great interest and often with intense emotion. It is a serious and important film, which depicts the terrible times that the Greek people are going through. Your film is a historical fact. I hope that change will come soon.”

Both the director Yorgos Avgeropoulos and the editorial team of WDR have been receiving touching messages by viewers of the film. “Now everybody here in Germany can see the truth”, “A very important film for citizens worldwide”, “I wish it will open more eyes” are some particularly revealing comments among many that were posted on the social media. Praising messages also followed the film’s first broadcast in Finland. Finnish citizens sent their solidarity greetings: “Thank you for your impressive, touching, thought-provoking documentary”, “Hope everyone in Finland, everyone in Europe sees it. And solidarity to the people of Greece!”

In the meantime, AGORΑ continues its journey in Greece. Now entering the fifth week of its national theatrical release, the film still screens at AAVORA in Athens, TAKIS KANELLOPOULOS in Thessaloniki and VITSENTZOS KORNAROS in Heraklion, Crete while it will also start screening at CINELAND PANTELIS in Rethymno, Crete.

On Friday, February 20th at 21:15 the film will screen at Lamia Film Society (Lamia city) and on Saturday, February 28th at 19:30 at Itea Film Society (Itea city). The director will attend both screenings in order to discuss with the audience.

More information about upcoming screenings of AGORΑ by film societies and cultural clubs in Greece, Cyprus and the rest of the world will follow soon.