The Athens Open Air Film Festival gets a "Big Chill"

"The Big Chill" makes a timely comeback on June 27, feeling just as fresh and as relevant as when it was first released 30 years ago. Paint the town red with a little help from your friends, along with your old buddies Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Kline, Meg Tilly and William Hurt! We couldn’t possibly think of a better spot to screen it than the gorgeous and relatively unexplored Plato’s Academy Archaeological Park, nestled inside one of the most hospitable neighborhoods of downtown Athens.

Lawrence Kasdan was only 34 years old when his name was linked with one of the most beloved films of the 80s. He had already written two major box office hits ("Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark") and had an impressive directorial debut ("Body Heat") to his name, which was more than enough to convince Columbia Pictures to let him assemble a team of relative unknowns (with the exception of William Hurt) – most of them originating in theater collectives – who would help him bring a screenplay that was very close to his heart to life.

Where: Plato’s Academy Archaeological Park
When: Thursday, June 27, 2013
Free entrance

"Karen: You'll never get this many people to come to my funeral.
Michael: Ohh, Karen, I'll come. And, you know... I'll bring a date."

30 years later, the story of a group of old college friends who get together after a funeral for a long overdue weekend reunion that soon turns into an emotional roller coaster, is still considered a classic screenwriting model that has inspired countless films and television series. “The Big Chill” still brings a smile to many a face and works as a timeless mirror where you can always find a piece of yourself if you look hard enough.

This film is proof that cinema has the power to engage viewers in an intimate dialogue that few art forms have the power to generate. It’s the modern alternative to psychoanalysis, because no matter how many times you watch it, it will always repeat a simple, yet essential truth: that no matter how cynical the world gets and how ruthless the passage of time, the only thing that’s really worth living for is the giving and receiving of love. This simple truth is what Lawrence Kasdan turned into a film that continues to move audiences 30 years later.

the big chill - trailer από NyxtesPremieras

Directed by: Laurence Kasdan
Starring: Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, William Hurt, Mary Kay Place, Tom Berenger, Jeff Goldblum, Meg Tilly
Running time: 105'

(click to enlarge)

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The 3rd Athens Open Air Film Festival is organized by the Athens International Film Festival and the CINEMA magazine – cinemagazine.gr, with the kind support of the Greek National Tourism Organisation.