"Glory, glory hallelujah, glory glory hallelujah, glory, glory hallelujah, his truth is marching on" - Cool mob of youngsters, AND"The judges of normality are present everywhere." - Michel Foucault (nif)I bet swimming naked in the ocean is good for blood pressure. This is finally the biography of that weird middle-aged guy you saw hanging out at the bars during Spring Break. In fact, I would call this film Cinemax produces Spring Breakers crossed with Lolita... but in the best way possible. I've seen some describe this as the main character's midlife crisis but only someone without a midlife crisis could see it that simply in my opinion. Suntan is a great satire of what lust and the drive for power can do to an aimless man and I recommend it to those looking to know more about Greek cinema or that love films about creepy dudes. Some will just dismiss this because it's too weird, which is a shame, but that's why we have Marvel, which I also like. I think getting caught up in disliking the characters will turn many people off to this film which will blind them to the biting satire about toxic masculinity and youth run amok. Suntan is not for everybody, but in a way that I appreciate and value, not in a way that should cause it to be dismissed. Just because something is depressing doesn't mean it isn't true and there is a lot of truth in this film and men's concepts of ownership. P.S. Watched for the Greek Weird Wave discussion in Film Club.
Personally, I don’t like the film, neither hate it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not because the film was bad, but because I couldn’t stand with the main character, Kostis (in emotional level, despite having my sympathy).This is a story of a volcanic explosion of unfulfilled needs, prevailed by perhaps, the first and foremost one of spiritual nature: being in love. Needs of a life, devoted to a noble and demanding because (serving as a doctor), but apparently, hardly receiving any significant material or sentimental payback. Needs, suppressed throughout the years, probably underneath layers of patience, constraints, expectations, and surrounding social indifference. Eventually, needs of a heart, permanently besieged by loneliness. In the middle of such an inner world of unstable equilibrium, life itself, boosted by the Aegean sunlight and erotic environment, explodes in apocalyptic glorious reflections of bold nudity, lust, joy, freedom to the extent of Bacchanalian orgy and sometimes rowdiness. An explosion that tantalizes the ethical boundaries that hold this world together, as it triggers its pursue for love, happiness, and reward.A lively cinematography with constant and absorbing pace all the way to the film credits. Vivid depiction of the Central Aegean summertime mood and environment. Sequences, completely successful in providing insight to characters and situations and getting feelings across. Authentically crafted and acted characters and behaviors. Credible representation of aspects of life in a typical Central Aegean Greek island, both during winter and summer.Now, here comes the most annoying part—the film was progressively uncomfortable toward the end, I had to skip forward several times. Luckily, it stops right at the moment when Kostis is just about to fall to the lowest point of the human being behavior. However, it’s a little bit disappointing that in the end we didn’t see whether he has achieved any catharsis, or any personal gain from all the trauma he suffered. Despite all of that, the film is still amazing due to its clear cuts in motifs and intentions, good cast, exciting plot, good acting, and great cinematography.
