Greek film and stage director (1922–2011)
Michael Cacoyannis
Born Michalis Kakogiannis
(1922-06-11 ) 11 June 1922Died 25 July 2011(2011-07-25) (aged 89) Other names Michael Yannis Alma mater
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Occupation Film director Years active 1954–1999 Partner
Yael Dayan (1959–1967)
Michael Cacoyannis (
Greek : Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης , Michalis Kakogiannis ; 11 June 1922 – 25 July 2011), sometimes credited as Michael Yannis , was a
Greek Cypriot theatre and film director, writer, producer, and actor.
Much of his work was rooted in classical texts, especially those of the
Greek tragedian
Euripides .
[1] His most acclaimed work is the 1964 film
Zorba the Greek , an adaptation of
Nikos Kazantzakis '
novel of the same name . He also directed the 1983 Broadway revival of the
musical based on the film . In addition to directing, he also wrote, produced, translated, and designed dozens of stage play and opera productions.
[2]
He was nominated for an
Academy Award five times, a record for any Cypriot film artist. He received
Best Picture ,
Best Director , and
Best Adapted Screenplay nominations for Zorba the Greek , and two nominations in the
Best Foreign Language Film category for
Electra (1962) and
Iphigenia (1977). He received many other international accolades, including the
Technical Grand Prize from the
Cannes Film Festival , as well as six
Palme d'Or nominations.
Life and career
Cacoyannis was born in 1922 in
Limassol , Cyprus. His father, Sir
Panayotis Loizou Cacoyannis , had been knighted in the
1936 Birthday Honours by the United Kingdom government for public services in Cyprus.
[3]
[4] His sister was the politician
Stella Soulioti .
[5]
In 1939, he was sent by his father to London to become a lawyer. He graduated from law school and joined the
BBC World Service , soon taking charge of its new Cyprus Service. His deputy was Beba Clerides, sister of the RAF fighter pilot and future
President of Cyprus ,
Glafkos Clerides .
[6] However, after producing Greek-language programmes for the
BBC World Service during
World War II ,
[7] he ended up at the
Old Vic school, and enjoyed a brief stage career there under the name Michael Yannis before he began working on films. After having trouble finding a directing job in the
British film industry , Cacoyannis moved to Greece, and in 1953 he made his first film,
Windfall in Athens .
[7]
He was offered the chance to direct
Elizabeth Taylor and
Marlon Brando in the film
Reflections in a Golden Eye , but he declined. [
citation needed ] Between 1959 and 1967, he was in a relationship with
Yael Dayan , a progressive Israeli politician and author.
[8] Cacoyannis translated some of Shakespeare's plays
Antony and Cleopatra ,
Coriolanus and
Hamlet into Greek, and
Euripides ' play
The Bacchae into English. [
citation needed ]
Cacoyannis died on 25 July 2011 in
Athens , aged 89.
[9]
Filmography
The Cherry Orchard (1999): director, screenwriter, producer
Up, Down and Sideways (Pano kato ke plagios ) (1993): director, screenwriter, producer
Sweet Country (Glykeia patrida ) (1986): director, screenwriter, producer
Iphigenia (1977): director, screenwriter
Attilas '74 (1975): director, producer
The Story of Jacob and Joseph , director
The Trojan Women (1971): director, screenwriter, producer
The Day the Fish Came Out (Otan ta psaria vgikan sti steria ) (1967): director, screenwriter, producer
Zorba the Greek (Alexis Zorbas ) (1964): director, screenwriter, producer
Electra (1962): director, screenwriter, producer
The Wastrel (Il Relitto ) (1961): director, screenwriter
Eroica (Our Last Spring ) (1960): director, screenwriter, producer
A Matter of Dignity (To telefteo psemma ) (1957): director, screenwriter, producer
A Girl in Black (To koritsi me ta mavra ) (1956): director, screenwriter
Stella (1955): director, screenwriter, producer
Windfall in Athens (Kyriakatiko xypnima ) (1954): director, screenwriter
Bibliography
Cacoyiannis, Michael. Diladi . Athens: Kastaniotis, 1990.
Awards and nominations
Cannes Film Festival
1954 : Golden Palm for "Windfall in Athens" – nominated
1955 : Golden Palm for "Stella" – nominated
1956 : Golden Palm for "A Girl in Black" – nominated
1957 : Golden Palm for "A Matter of Dignity" – nominated
1961 : Golden Palm for "The Wastrel" – nominated
1962 : Golden Palm for "Elektra" – nominated
[10]
1962 : Grand Jury Prize for "Elektra" – won
[10]
1962 : Technical Award for "Elektra" – won
[10]
1977 : Golden Palm for "Iphigenia" – nominated
Berlin International Film Festival
1960 :
Golden Bear for "Our Last Spring" – nominated
1963 : David O. Selznick Award for "Elektra" – won
Academy Award (Oscar)
1963 : Best Foreign Language Film for "Elektra" – nominated
[11]
1964 : Best Picture for "Zorba the Greek" – nominated
1964 : Best Director for "Zorba the Greek" – nominated
1964 : Best Adapted Screenplay for "Zorba the Greek" – nominated
1977 : Best Foreign Language Film for "Iphigenia" – nominated
[12]
Golden Globe
1956 : Best Foreign Language Film for "Stella" – won
1957 : Best Foreign Language Film for "A Girl in Black" – won
1965 : Best Director for "Zorba the Greek – nominated
British Academy Award (BAFTA)
1966 : Best Film for "Zorba the Greek" – nominated
1966 : UN Award for "Zorba the Greek" – nominated
New York Film Critics
1964 : Best Film for "Zorba the Greek" – nominated
1964 : Best Director for "Zorba the Greek" – nominated
1964 : Best Screenplay for "Zorba the Greek" – nominated
David di Donatello Award
1964 : Special Plaque for "Zorba the Greek" – won
Thessaloniki Film Festival
1960 : Special Contribution Award – won
1961 : Best Director for "Our Last Spring" – won
1962 : Best Film for "Elektra" – won
1962 : Best Director for "Elektra" – won
1977 : Best Film for "Iphigenia" – won
1999 : Union of Film and Television Technicians Award for "The Cherry Orchard" – won
Moscow Film Festival
1956 : Silver Medal for "A Girl in Black" – Won
Edinburgh Film Festival
1954 : Diploma of Merit for "Windfall in Athens" – won
1962 : Diploma of Merit for "Elektra" – won
Montreal World Film Festival
1999 : Special Contribution Award – won
Jerusalem Film Festival
1999 : Lifetime Achievement Award – won
Cairo International Film Festival
2001 : Lifetime Achievement Award – won
References
Further reading
Festival Kinimatografou Thessalonikis. Michalis Kakogiannis . Athens: Kastaniotis, 1995.
Georgakas, Dan. "From Stella to Iphigenia: The Woman-Centered Films of Michael Cacoyannis." Cineaste 30 (2), 2005: pp. 24–31.
"Personality of the Month."
Films and Filming , July 1960: p. 5.
Siafkos, Christos. Michalis Kakogiannis: Se Proto Plano . Athens: Psychogios, 2009.
External links.
International National People Other