No Budget Story (1997)

Irinaios is a young director. He believes that one day his talent will be recognized and he will become very famous but, for the time being, he is broke. Forced to find a job in order to pay the rent, he meets Tolis. Tolis claims to be rich and willing to fund Irinaios' film. Maria lives next door to Irinaios and he falls in love with her. Since she is an actress, he promises to let her star in his movie. So, everything seems to be set for his dream to come true. Tolis, though, has some other things in mind...With his debut film, Renos Haralambidis demonstrates his love for cinema: "No budget story" is full of references to his favorite directors, actors etc. It is clearly influenced by Alexnadre Rockwell's "In the soup". In fact, Haralambidis almost copies Rockwell's film but eventually creates something very personal, a film about a young man's desire for artistic creation, for fame and love. Partly autobiographical, the film is shot in black and white, which really suits the "underground" feeling that emanates from it. Acting is pretty good, especially Yorgos Voultatzis. The pace is a bit slow but it never becomes boring. 87 minutes is as long as it should have been.I really enjoyed the movie! There are a lot of funny moments but in the end I was left with a bittersweet feeling because Irinaios (which is -by the way- Renos Haralambidis' true name) is partly an ambitious dreamer and partly a looser with whom you can't help sympathizing.This is a very nice film for every cinema lover but it does not appeal to mainstream tastes. Give it a try!

Together with Buffalo 66 by Vincent Gallo, this is one of the best independent films ever made. Haralambidis proved himself as an honest cynical, with an excellent sense of humour director. Too bad, he spoiled himself into useless TV stuff and stupid ads. The use of black and white film and the situations of constant laughs make this film appropriate for multiple views. The intention of the film wasn't really to prove anything or to sent a message to the viewers (although it does), however it does proves that a good Greek modern comedy is possible to be made. The director through the movie, laughs sarcastically to all the untalented new Greek sex-obsessed filmmakers who are more appreciated than he is. "Losers" like the hero of the movie are the only people who are still have real life in a self-consuming modern Greek reality.

With 'no budget story' Haralampidis tries not just to make a low cost story (The whole budget was just 15000$). He succeeds in two things. First to give a lesson to all these who think that cinema is just an industry, a way to make money, so, if somebody spends a lot of money in making a movie, he'll be a success. These people have forgotten the relation between art and cinema. The other target of Haralampidis was to pay a tribute to all the great directors that he is fond of, like Scorceze, Felini, or Bunuel. In the film, he actually makes us feel the desperation and the hope of a young director that cares only for the artistic side of cinema, and can not find any support or somebody at least to understand him. For me is an example of how movies should be made. A study on the cinema of the great directors and not on the cinema that belongs to Hollywood (and all the others that would like to be Hollywood), where only money talks. A film that you can watch it a lot of times and every time it will give you something new, real artistic movie. Congratulations to Haralampidi.

This slow film shows someone willing to create a film with the girl next door.Later on he will try his fortune by distributing videocassettes.The big issue of drugs evolves in this mosaic-like story showing the problems of modern Greece.