Wednesday 23 May 2012

Alexander Papadiamantis, The Fate of the American (filmed as O Metanastis)

The Greece I remember: a beautiful and nostalgic black and white film made in 1965, filmed on the islands of Skiathos and Skopelos.

Watch O Metanastis (The Emigrant; Greek, no subtitles). Based on a story by Alexander Papadiamantis, 'The Fate of the American' is similar in some respects to the story by Antonis Travlantonis, 'The American's Christmas' (set on Paxos).

Both stories concern the return to their native islands of emigrants to America. Everyone on the islands awaits their return, imagining them as wealthy, eligible men and generous benefactors. Instead they return with their health broken, as dying men.

Both stories seem to have been influenced by Guy de Maupassant's story "My Uncle Jules" (1883).

O Metanastis features moving music and songs composed by Yannis Markopoulos.

More information about Papadiamantis/Papadiamandis

Denise Harvey, Publisher

The story, translated as 'The American', is included in 'The Boundless Garden, Selected Short Stories Vol. 1'
It also appears as 'Fortune from America' in 'Tales from a Greek Island', John Hopkins University Press.

Wikipedia

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