Sotiris Goritsas’ Latest Film Screens at 3rd Montreal Greek Film Festival

Despite the terrible financial circumstances, political and social turmoil in Greece, the country’s film industry builds upon its problems and exports its masterpieces abroad.

The 3rd Montreal Greek Film Festival brought to the Greek population of Canada several new film productions made in their home country as well as one of the most promising modern filmmakers Mr. Sotiris Goritsas.

The Greek filmmaker attended the two screenings of his latest film “Welcome to ‘All Saints’” (2010), which was warmly accepted by the audience.

The Greek filmmaker managed to successfully put into a comedy the tragic and rotten workings of the Greek national health system. More particularly, a young medical intern begins his career at the “All Saints” Hospital. It is here that he discovers that everyone who works in the Greek public sector is part of an absurd tragicomedy. He finds out how a system that is designed for the well-being of everyone has become an insane instrument of torture that grinds everyone down, whether they’re a saint or not.

Mr. Goritsas told ANA-MPA that he shot this film based on the book by a Greek doctor working in a public hospital. “After having an accident, I was admitted to this hospital where I met Dr. Giorgos Dendrinos. My brother works at a public hospital as well. So based on those two men stories, I wanted to depict the overall bureaucracy of my country in a humorous way”.

Sotiris Goritsas was positively surprised with the Greek-Canadian audience, who asked questions and eagerly responded at his film’s connotations. “I am impressed by the fact that the Greeks of Canada may be so far away from their home country, yet are terribly concerned and anxious over the developments occurring in Greece. When you act with honesty, people respond with honesty to you and this interaction is a highly paying-back feeling for any filmmaker” said Mr. Goritsas.