A clear view from within the eurogroup during the Greek drama. Gavras is bold and shows high tensions, clear colors of the circus we live in, luck of democracy, solid reasons for criticism of an amateur leftist government including Yianis and a great Lulis acting this role. The finale though is weak imo. A solid 6! - but we must revisit the film a few years later. Gavras takes the risk and makes the movie from his and Varoufakis point of view and gives a true atmosphere of the time. If you watch the film watch it trying to stay out fro
m political parties and personal views. Discuss it later.
54 Reviews
Viewers obviously find it difficult to separate the movie, from the events representing.
Green-Bubble30 October 2019
First of all, I will start by mentioning the obvious: The negative reviews are by not-so-bright Greeks who can't review a movie for what it is, but for what it shows. The summer of 2015 was a pretty heated period in Greece, and many people have not forgiven the politicians involved.
About the movie. Don't expect a masterpiece. It is not. However it is a decent representation of Varoufakis's point of view, which on each own, is extremely interesting. Loulis's performance as Varoufakis is the strongest asset of this movie in my opinion. Bourdoumis was very good as well as Tsipras.
Photography was good. Editing was good. I found the sound editing irritating, like I do in most Greek movies (why is that? Any greek production sounds weird to me, like they can't keep steady the volume of the voices spoken).
7/10 from me.
About the movie. Don't expect a masterpiece. It is not. However it is a decent representation of Varoufakis's point of view, which on each own, is extremely interesting. Loulis's performance as Varoufakis is the strongest asset of this movie in my opinion. Bourdoumis was very good as well as Tsipras.
Photography was good. Editing was good. I found the sound editing irritating, like I do in most Greek movies (why is that? Any greek production sounds weird to me, like they can't keep steady the volume of the voices spoken).
7/10 from me.
Disappointing...
barneyrulez21 October 2019
Honestly I couldn't believe starting from the first scenes of the film that this was a Costas Gavras film. It screamed "quick and dirty" approach through out the entire movie. Bad direction, bad lighting and photography - almost amateur. It's really a pity that such an acclaimed creator made this work... Nice surprise from the Loulis in the role of Yannis Varoufakis, at least he was ok to watch.
For Viewing Adults Only
velvet_zoo12 October 2020
I know no other film that takes you behind the scenes of EU politics like this one. A must see if you are interested in European politics or if you are inclined to read the politics section of any serious newspaper.
A nice theatrical representation of the 2015 political events from Varoufakis point of view, with some imperfections.
nick_sotiropoulos9 October 2019
As far as the real events, i watched what I was expecting even me not having read Varoufakis's book. So almost nothing special here, no surprise. So, despite the "outsider's" role of Varoufakis, expected some more "insider's" information.
I liked the performance of almost all characters. They are totally in line with the actual person's image to the public, in a dramatic and brutal realistic way together. I would say it is Gavras style with a bit of Nikos Perakis'...
I liked the photography. Lighting and colors are top notch in bright and dark scenes. Especially the darks in Varoufakis' house or the semi-lighted scene when Varoufakis speeks to british bankers. Composition and perspective are also excellent. However, there was some lens distortion in the wide internal shots that could have been avoided. DOPs have managed this decades ago shooting film, so no excuse have them shooting digital nowadays, except it was a choice not a compromise, however i can see no reason for this in those particular shots.
As far as the screenplay and editing. Did not like it very much as a whole. Nice cuts, fluid scenes, but many important events are a bit squeezed at the end. Like the editor suddenly realised that he aproached the movie's time limit and had to exclude takes, or the producers suddenly run out of money. Maybe that is how Varoufakis book ends? Do not know, but it is a movie not a book and I believe great Costas Gabras could have done better here. Final documentary titles also seem to try and fill this gap, with no success in my opinion.
I liked the performance of almost all characters. They are totally in line with the actual person's image to the public, in a dramatic and brutal realistic way together. I would say it is Gavras style with a bit of Nikos Perakis'...
I liked the photography. Lighting and colors are top notch in bright and dark scenes. Especially the darks in Varoufakis' house or the semi-lighted scene when Varoufakis speeks to british bankers. Composition and perspective are also excellent. However, there was some lens distortion in the wide internal shots that could have been avoided. DOPs have managed this decades ago shooting film, so no excuse have them shooting digital nowadays, except it was a choice not a compromise, however i can see no reason for this in those particular shots.
As far as the screenplay and editing. Did not like it very much as a whole. Nice cuts, fluid scenes, but many important events are a bit squeezed at the end. Like the editor suddenly realised that he aproached the movie's time limit and had to exclude takes, or the producers suddenly run out of money. Maybe that is how Varoufakis book ends? Do not know, but it is a movie not a book and I believe great Costas Gabras could have done better here. Final documentary titles also seem to try and fill this gap, with no success in my opinion.
A fight between the Greeks and the EU to resolve the financial crisis.
impeyrules-5463412 January 2020
Interesting story about the greek financial crisis and the political struggles that were endured. Good insight into the struggles and flaws of the EU. Potentially quite a one sided view of things.
Superb musical background.
The source material deserved better
neithan_killme20 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I went through almost all of the reviews about this film and most of them are partisan in one way or another. I personally agree with Varoufakis' version of the events, but unfortunately the film falls short of managing to convey them in a coherent and aesthetically pleasing manner.
I expected more from Gavras and, having read the source material and followed the events depicted closely, I surmise that the film was made hastily and without much attention to detail.
No timeline of events is given, almost no character development is depicted and the cinematic narration is jumbled and seems to be in a constant rush.
I am in no way saying that this is an easy series of events to adapt and, with all its shortcomings, the film has a rhythm and keeps you engaged -- this is not a snooze fest.
But if one is unaware of the events depicted, I'm guessing that he or she would come off not having understood a lot of what was happening. And the final scene, when the film suddenly veers off from realism to surrealism could maybe be interpreted as poetic artistic license, but really does nothing to help it's coherence and further disengages the viewer from the story.
Loulis shines throughout the film, having captured Varoufakis almost perfectly. Even his manner of speaking is almost identical -- Loulis did his homework and it shows. Shuurmans & Tukur as Dijsselbloem & Schauble respectively, also did a very good job. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the rest of the cast, mediocre at best -- Bourdoumis especially could not capture Tsipras' mannerisms and character.
In conclusion, a real shame. This film could have been a really good look into the inner workings and the mafia-like shadows of the EU. What we ended up with is a mediocre film -- watchable, but not much more.
I expected more from Gavras and, having read the source material and followed the events depicted closely, I surmise that the film was made hastily and without much attention to detail.
No timeline of events is given, almost no character development is depicted and the cinematic narration is jumbled and seems to be in a constant rush.
I am in no way saying that this is an easy series of events to adapt and, with all its shortcomings, the film has a rhythm and keeps you engaged -- this is not a snooze fest.
But if one is unaware of the events depicted, I'm guessing that he or she would come off not having understood a lot of what was happening. And the final scene, when the film suddenly veers off from realism to surrealism could maybe be interpreted as poetic artistic license, but really does nothing to help it's coherence and further disengages the viewer from the story.
Loulis shines throughout the film, having captured Varoufakis almost perfectly. Even his manner of speaking is almost identical -- Loulis did his homework and it shows. Shuurmans & Tukur as Dijsselbloem & Schauble respectively, also did a very good job. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the rest of the cast, mediocre at best -- Bourdoumis especially could not capture Tsipras' mannerisms and character.
In conclusion, a real shame. This film could have been a really good look into the inner workings and the mafia-like shadows of the EU. What we ended up with is a mediocre film -- watchable, but not much more.
Disappointing
harkontos-261018 October 2019
Having read the book "Adults in the room" I was waiting much more from this film. My impression is that Gavras, trying to fit the book in a two hour movie has messed it up. In contrast to the book I couldn't see any evolution of characters but meetings meetings and more meetings (Eurogroup etc). Thé scenes failed to give the narration and the atmosphere that exist in the book. Moreover the film is messed up chronically. Someone who doesn't know the story cannot understand if the whole story occurs in a week or a month or more. The use of first names was really annoying. The Final scene is completely out of nowhere and is nonsense, coming from Greek musical from the 60's.
No in contrast to the book - which I consider as a must read - this film is a total mess. C'est dommage pour Gavras.
No in contrast to the book - which I consider as a must read - this film is a total mess. C'est dommage pour Gavras.
Strong Common Sense
Eleftherios-T8 March 2020
Costa Gavras, in my opinion, as an artist, sensed that something's not wright about EU policy and he felt it was necessary to publicise it, so people can be aware of the situation and start concerning. Obviously Varoufakis' annoying characteristics are clear, however the existence of key facts can be observed and understood easily from a rational human being. More specifically, the hypocrisy of EU, Prime ministers' naivety along with his willingness to help, the phenomenon of uneducated Greek ministers which unfortunately is a crucial factor of Greece's politicians, and of course Varoufakis' critical thinking along with a strong common sense. Also, the detection of the truth from Christine Lagarde closely to her understanding of backing's needity, Wolfgang's egoistic, childish policy, showing of a person who demands to be in charge because of his Country's economic superiority, resistant to help, and lastly EU's clear abeyance to Germany.
Dissatisfactory critics are not understandable for me, since every detail referred on this movie, has been previously reported, every fact is online and anyone with a natural way of thinking can observe the truthfulness of the evidences.
Below Average Political Thriller
dleymoor7 October 2019
Bad Aesthetics, mediocre acting and the directing was inconsistent with really bad, pointless cuts. The lighting and the filters were out of place and did not match with the script and the story telling.
All these facts do not add with the budget of the movie or the expectations of the production. If you want to waste a bit of your time you can watch this.
Somewhat overdramatized around Varoufakis as a person but still the complete scoop
konpanag17 February 2020
It isn't one of the best of Gavras but still most reviews are from the individuals that disaprove of anyone trying to go against the european ang greek establisment and thus have a deep distaste for Varoufakis.
Don't mind them and their low ratings. The garbage truck of history and the social unrest caused by their conservative fears that let the establisment continue their destructive "solution" in Greece and elsewere wil take care of them.
See this movie with a grain of salt allways and make up your own minds.
More of a dramatised documentary
hgnostop9 October 2019
Good casting and photography in a loyal transcript of Yanis Varoufakis' original book. However I found the direction uninspired and dry. The film could be watched as a dramatised documentary as the events are stripped down of any emotional attachments. It is recommended for people that prefer a visualised version of the author's excellent book.
Tell me something I DONT know
Notorius227 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The movie kept balancing it self between the areas of respectful and boring. The ending was shot in a poor laughable, unprofessional way and it killed the mood for everyone. 130 minutes of uneventful anticlimactic scenes with barely passable performances.
A review from the Venice Film Festival screening.
sofaga17 September 2019
This year I had the opportunity to attend Venice film Festival. One of the movies I saw there was Adults in the Room by Mr. Costa-Gavras. This movie is all about Greek politics and I'm from Greece too so I was excited to see how they were portrayed. The movie was excellent, it demonstrated the situation how it really was of course from Mr. Varoufakis book who was really an insider to the politics back then. All in all, the movie is worth watching especially for people who are into politics and don't pay attention to the bad reviews they are from Greek people with different political beliefs who also haven't seen the movie because it's not out yet. Thank you for reading.
Yaroufakis v Rest Of The World
gcarpiceci22 November 2019
Adults In A Room is based on the homonymous book, which is an unapologetic, shameless self-celebration of Yanis Varoufakis; but that's fine, as the book is authored by Yanis Varoufakis, who's fully entitled to consider himself as a god put on earth. Never mind history proved him wrong on every level, we live in the era of wild populism where reality is what you want it to be.
What is instead amazing is that a respectable director like Costa-Gavras lended himself to the operation of endorsing the delusional fantasies of the book by transposing them extremely loyally onto the screen.
This is in essence the story of Yaroufakis v Rest Of The World, and the result is: Yaroufakis wins! Yaroufakis got it all right, the rest of the world got it all wrong; Yaroufakis is the only hero in the room, the rest of the world is a bunch of wimps, arrogant, incompetent idiots.
The movie is bad even on a purely cinematic level: there is virtually no plot apart the sequences of meetings if the Euro-Group are utterly boring, there are some scenes which are farcical and kitsch, performances are amateurish, almost theatrical.
All in all, I felt the movie was an insult to intelligence.
What we need to know as Europeans
nickeron3 October 2019
I saw this movie at its premiere in Greece.
I didn't realize how time went by, since the story and the directing were so fascinating that kept me at the edge of my seat.
Of course I was so interested in the plot, since whatever is described in this movie has plenty to do with me as a Greek and as a European.
But this is not a movie you can simply ignore, no matter one's political beliefs.
The acting of some of the actors was excellent, while others seemed to struggle. The soundtrack was superb and the plot unfolded in a natural way.
This movie does not have a happy ending, nor should it have. It is the most essential type of art. The type that gives you a glimpse behind the curtains of this world.
The acting of some of the actors was excellent, while others seemed to struggle. The soundtrack was superb and the plot unfolded in a natural way.
This movie does not have a happy ending, nor should it have. It is the most essential type of art. The type that gives you a glimpse behind the curtains of this world.
Probably the worst film I have ever seen
psdeme7 October 2019
Apart from the scenario, which I could very well understand it would be one-sided and radical populist before even seeing the film, I was deeply disappointed by the technical aspects of the film too. In most of the parts, it looked really cheap and of minimum artistic value.
Gavras can do better and he has proven it in the past.
Gavras can do better and he has proven it in the past.
Poor acting based on a baseless script. Very disappointing
gghines-933-87352811 September 2019
I was lucky to watch a sneak copy of the film and i must admit that in general it was way below my expectations. The book was much better. I gave one star because of some scenes. The adaptation was poor, the actors pathetic.
The story unfolds in very low and boring pace, without any suspense or drama feel. This is the style of Gavras, a typical school of so-called art cinema, where you usually leave during the interval. I did not as i was hoping till the last moment that the film would make a turn around.
Pure waste of time
The story unfolds in very low and boring pace, without any suspense or drama feel. This is the style of Gavras, a typical school of so-called art cinema, where you usually leave during the interval. I did not as i was hoping till the last moment that the film would make a turn around.
Pure waste of time
MUST BE SEEN !!!!!
abisio1 July 2020
Forget your political inclinations and all you had heard about Greece tragedy; the movie is basically the discussion of a recently elected left government to survive the pressure of the EU on agreements signed by its right predecessors.
We know history and how ruined Greece is; perhaps not everything is true but the film is so intense that will keep you hooked for its two hours.
Does not matter you do not know most of the characters. There are very few important because the rest are just puppets.
There are many wrong things in Greece; but the insensibility of the great economic powers and bankers, the pressure of the money controllers to destabilize a government and force into dirty business to destroy even more the country is truly infuriating and sadly true.
How it ends; well read the news papers and it was not good for Greece
In brief, just clean your mind of politics and see this to understand how bad our world is.
How it ends; well read the news papers and it was not good for Greece
In brief, just clean your mind of politics and see this to understand how bad our world is.
One star
louisacalvin3 October 2019
Excellent film
theogeorgoulis7 September 2019
1 star only for the actors!!!
kfourtouni11 September 2019
Really bad acting/plot
psgalore7 September 2019
Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
volvensspadom3 October 2019
A possy
tonythetuba2 October 2019
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