Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, famous for its natural beauty, turquoise waters and sandy beaches. But did you know that Zakynthos has also been the setting or filming location for several movies and TV shows? In this blog post, we will explore some of the most famous ones and tell you where you can see them.
The Forbidden Four (2018)
This is a fantasy and drama film directed by Thomas Lee Rutter, featuring a weird and intriguing story with characters such as brain-sucking lobsters, singing dolls and baby-snatching toy dolls. The film consists of four segments, each with a different style and theme. One of them, titled “The Island of the Dolls”, was filmed in Zakynthos, among other locations worldwide. The segment tells the story of a young couple who visit a mysterious island full of creepy dolls that have a sinister secret.
Red Cliff (1949)
This is a drama and romance film directed by Grigoris Grigoriou, based on a novel by Angelos Terzakis. The film is set in Zakynthos in the 1940s and tells the tragic love story of Foteini Santri, a carefree girl who lives on the island, and Angelos Marinis, her first cousin who visits from Athens. Angelos falls in love with Foteini, but she rejects him because of their family ties. When the family elders finally allow them to marry, Angelos is already married to someone else, leading Foteini to jump off the cliff to her death. The film features beautiful scenes of the island’s landscape and culture.
I Hrysomallousa (1980)
This is a comedy film directed by Tony Lycouressis and Adonis Lykouresis, starring Vera Krouska, Adonis Katsaris and Vangelis Kazan. The film is about a village population in Zakynthos that prepares for a theatre production of Euripides’ tragedy “Alcestis”. The film depicts the humorous interactions and conflicts among the villagers, as well as their passion for theatre and culture. The film was shot on location in Zakynthos and won three awards at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
Alcestes (1983)
This is a drama film directed by Adonis Lykouresis, based on Euripides’ tragedy “Alcestis”. The film is about a writer who returns to his hometown in Zakynthos after many years, looking for his childhood love who played Alcestis in a school play. However, he finds out that she has died and he tries to cope with his loss and nostalgia. The film features scenes of the island’s natural beauty and traditional architecture.
Mediterraneo (1991)
This is a comedy and war film directed by Gabriele Salvatores, starring Diego Abatantuono, Claudio Bigagli and Giuseppe Cederna. The film is about an Italian army unit of misfits who occupy an isolated Greek island during World War II. The island is actually Kastellorizo, the easternmost Greek island near Turkey, but some scenes were filmed in Zakynthos as well. The film shows how the soldiers gradually abandon their military duties and embrace the peaceful life of the islanders, forming friendships and romances with them. The film won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1992.
