“Flux Gourmet” British Peter Strickland, which opens this week in Greek cinemas, is a joint production of the United Kingdom, the United States and Hungary, but the main character-narrator in it is a Greek: Poppies Papadimitriou. The versatile actor, one of the most talented of his generation, has already made a name for himself overseas, and a few months ago, his performance in this particular film led the glamorous Vanity Fair to list him among the best films of the year. But how did this unexpected collaboration come about?

“Even before the pandemic, in 2019, I received an email from an American producer who wanted to connect me with Peter (Strickland). He sent me the script, I read it, and I really liked it. Finally, the film was shot in the summer of 2021. Peter’s mother is Greek, and he loves this country very much, he comes here in the summer since childhood. This is probably why he wanted a Greek to be chosen for this role. But I also really liked the cinema he makes and the aesthetic and themes of this particular film,” Makis Papadimitriou tells us.

In Flux Gourmet, his character is a journalist closely following the exploits and antics of an art collective that creates sounds with… food. At the same time, he also presents himself as a narrator, even taking on a role in Greek: “I voiced in both English and Greek, but in the end Peter chose the latter because he wanted the language to be heard in Greek. movie. Anyway, we have different nationalities, mostly English, but also Romanians, French (including our famous Ariana Lambed), Greeks, and I think that in itself is a charming trait.”

“The film commented that in some cases the public accepts what is presented to them as art,” says Mr. Papadimitriou.

Strickland’s film can be read in many ways, including as a kind of satire on contemporary artistic development and the relationship between work and audience. “It is precisely because of my subjective nature that I believe that a work of art eventually finds its viewer; at the same time, of course, it cannot be universally recognized. The film comments on the fact that in some cases the public accepts what is presented to them as art without tension and without filtering, and sometimes it may simply be the desire of the artist to “disturb”, provoke a reaction. “.

Active in theater as well as television and film, Makis Papadimitriou has his own opinion about every media outlet in Greece today: “Due to the pandemic, the theater has sunk and the scholarship policy introduced is certainly not a solution. On the positive side, things are going well for most theaters this year – hopefully next year as well. There are some very wonderful works in cinema and television now, and most importantly, there is more extraversion. It’s certainly reassuring that there’s a push for projects that go beyond the elbow and aren’t just a daily soap opera. On the other hand, I’m a bit pessimistic because I don’t think we have a long term strategy; now that there is extra money, things are happening, and when they stop, we will drown. I hope I’m wrong.”

Of course, we couldn’t help but ask Papadimitriou how he sees the problem of survival that has arisen with the central cinemas of Athens.

“I see that we have become sustainable internationally. It’s a pity they close cinemas because some people only see numbers and balances and think that this and that doesn’t make as much money, but death will bring more. Cinemas are cultural centers and cannot be demolished for hotels or car parks, as specific buildings are owned by the state and there is a reason for that. I am glad that a large number of artists, both from Greece and abroad, have risen to save the halls.”