|
By Karyn Smoot
|
|
Apr. 27, 2009 |
Set in modern-day Greece on an old-fashioned island, Small Crime takes a whimsical look at the death of the resident drunk Zacharias.
The death is a welcome change of pace for Leonidas, the restless young
police officer assigned to the sleepy island. Tired of chasing down
nude tourists and unlicensed on his scooter, Leonidas relishes the
possibility of foul play.
As Leonidas goes through town trying to find the real story of
Zacharias’ death, he unearths a new vitality beneath the crusted
surface of the island. With the return of the glamorous Angeliki, a
native-turned-talk-show-host, things get more interesting for both the
investigation and Leonidas.
Between a makeshift ice-cream freezer morgue and a
water-gun-as-murder-weapon scenario, this film pushes tragedy aside in
favor of whimsy. Not to mention the rugged and beautiful scenery that
adds a layer of realism to the film as a whole. The charming cast of
Greek actors leaves the viewer with a warm sense of small island life,
resulting in a light-hearted yet keenly rendered look at a personal
quest for purpose and love.
|
