Melina Mercouri plays a free-spirited woman who enjoys music and attention but has no desire to get married, especially to someone who wants her to stay at home. Things change when she meets Miltos, a football player who doesn’t just love her, but wants to control her. He talks about marriage and a proper life together. Even though she is clear about how she feels, he keeps pushing her. There’s no slow build. Cacoyannis gives the film a very raw look. The camera follows Stella through dusty streets and crowded tavernas. You can almost feel the walls closing in around her. The taverna scenes, the picnic by the sea, the everyday streets of Greece — they all give the story a strong neorealist touch. The music perfectly matches what’s happening on screen. And the use of shadows — especially in the scenes between Mercouri and Foundas — is just beautiful. As the movie moves into the third act, it stops feeling like a romance and becomes much darker. Wedding day slowly turns into a countdown — Stella’s refusal isn’t a sudden change — She would rather lose everything than marry someone against her will. The final moments are haunting. Mercouri looks tired and almost physically broken. The silence is heavier than all the music before it. The film doesn’t soften its ending either ("Hes not a murderer. It's all her fault.")
