I included a Greek American movie and a Greek TV series in my viewing, the 2002 romantic comedy “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and the murder mystery “Save Me.” Although “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” came out in 2002, there have been two sequels, the 2016 “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.”

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This film takes place in Chicago where the 30-year-old Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) lives with her parents and works at their restaurant, “Dancing Zorba’s”. She remembers feeling different growing up. “When I was growing up, I knew I was different. The other girls were blonde and delicate, and I was a swarthy six year old with sideburns.” She’s also frumpish as a kid who eats things that have yet to become popularly accepted.

Toula’s father Gus  (Michael Constantine) believes that “There are two kinds of people: Greeks, and everyone else who wish they was Greek” (and that any ailment from psoriasis to poison ivy can be cured with Windex).  He wants her to get married and feel that she’s getting too old, but he also assumed that she’ll marry into the Greek American community. However, Toula, still in full frump-mode, finds herself attracted to a teacher (John Corbett as Ian Miller) who is having dinner with his friend at Dancing Zorba’s.

Although their brief exchange is awkward and brief, it’s enough to inspire Toula to make a change. She starts by enrolling in computer classes at a local college, reasoning  it will help modernize the restaurant. Her mother, Maria (Lainie Kazan) helps convince Gus to support this decision. Toula makes friends, and begins to find her own style. She decides to take a class on computers and travel agencies, Toula goes to her aunt Voula (Andrea Martin) suggests that she might be able to help with Voula’s travel agency. Voula not only agrees, she and Maria work to convince Gus to go along with this plan.

While working at the travel agency, Toula meets the teacher, Ian (John Corbett), again and a romance blossoms. Despite her father’s attempt to find her a Greek American mate, Toula continues to see Ian and they decide to marry. The wedding plans are shaped by their respective families, but eventually we get a happy ending.  Toula realizes that “my family is big and loud, but they’re my family. Wherever I got, whatever I do, they will always be there.”

I remembered this film as I was watching “The Odyssey,” and I thought of Toula comparing herself to the in crowd of delicate blondes. Vardalos wrote the film although Joel Zwick directed. The Helen of Troy in the 2004 “Troy” was both blonde and delicate. Of course, the Helen of “The Odyssey,” Lupita Nyong’o, isn’t blonde, but she is delicate.  The Helen of  the 1971 “The Trojan Women,” Irene Papas, is neither.

I also thought of the power dynamics. While Gus puts his faith in Windex, Maria believes that “the man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants.” I remember while watching Irene Papas’ Helen in “The Trojan Women.”

The film received two Golden Globe nominations (Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy) and an Oscar nomination (Best Original Screenplay).

Save Me (2023) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anyone who knows my TV viewing habits understands that “Law & Order” is my lullaby and that murder mysteries are always a good choice for me. While I usually go in for cozy murder mysteries or procedurals, I also take in an occasional psychological limited seres. “Save Me” (not to be confused with the British drama series) is an 8-episode noir thriller series  (2022-2023).

Currently streaming on the European-focused streaming service Viaplay, the series has a lot of things working in its favor. Novelist Dimitris Simos serves as head writer on the series which is based on his own novel (“Sose me”).

A young woodcarver, Nikol (Danai Skiadi) returns to her hometown Komotini for her father’s memorial service. A local detective Despoina Loukidi (Elena Mavridou) has gotten a lurid homicide that has the markings of a disturbed, but practiced perpetrator. When Nikol’s younger sister disappears, the detective and the woodcarver will meet and slowly entangle the connections between the sister and the murder and some small town secrets will be uncovered.

This is a solid female-led drama that examines the cultural misogyny in a way that touches upon some of the contemporary problems we’re dealing with in the US. Director Pierros Andrakakos  with cinematographer Vasilis Kasvikis build up a believable atmospheric reality.

Zorba the Greek (1964) ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Greek Cypriot Michael Cacoyannis wrote and directed this film with Mexico-born Anthony Quinn as the titular character. Based on the 1946 novel (“Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas”) by Nikos Kazantzakis, the film is about a writer, Basil (Alan Bates), who is of Greek descent, but was raised in the UK.

Zorba quickly introduces himself, and tries to get work as anything, a cook or a handyman. Basil is traveling to Crete to attend to his father’s land, hoping to re-open the lignite mine. Lignite is a brown combustible sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. Lignite is the lowest rank of coal and it is harmful to the people who burn it with links to cardiovascular disease, asthma, chronic bronchitis and neurological damage.

Zorba joins Basil, claiming he has knowledge of lignite, but it’s two fools on an errand. They lodge at the French woman’s, Madame Hortense (Lila Kedrovva), hotel. While Hortense is attracted to Zorba, a young widow is attracted to the shy Basil.

Zorba will use trickery to help open the mine, but he will also betray Basil’s trust. Basic and Zorba will intrigue and anger the locals. Yet while they will survive, two innocents do not: the widow (Irene Papas) and the young man (George Voyadjis as Pavlo)  who is infatuated with her. Despite three deaths, the two men will be able to laugh at their failures and Zorba will teach Basil the sirtaki dance. Zorba certainly has a zest for life, but the overall effect is one of scattershot incidents and no strongly defined theme. Zorba is egotistical and manipulative, but he also has an optimism against the cruelties of life. He’s a survivor, but not one you’d want to trust with your money.

Still the film won Oscars for Best Supporting Actress (Kedrova), Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction. The film and the novel were also the basis for the Tony Award-winning stage musical which premiered in 1968 with a book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Fred Ebb and music by John Kander. The 1983 Broadway revival was directed by Cacoyannis, choreographed by Graciela Daniele and starred Anthony Quinn and Lila Kedrova. Kedrova won a Tony Award (Best Featured Actress in a Musical) for her performance as Madame Hortense. In this version, the widow doesn’t die.

Does every man need madness to break free and truly live? What about women? I can understand why the murder was taken out of the musical.