Richard Johnson & Raquel Welch - Cyprus 1970 BELOVED DAYS world distribution by 10FRANCS Synopsis In 1970, the people of the village of Karmi on the north coast of Cyprus participated in a memorable experience: the shooting of George P. Cosmatos risqué romance THE BELOVED, starring movie icons Raquel Welch and Richard Johnson. The first Hollywood production to be filmed in Cyprus, THE BELOVED signaled a new future for the country as film destination, a future that was terminated abruptly by the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the changes that followed. Four decades later, this documentary recounts the experiences of those who lived through these two key events in Cypriot history.
Richard Johnson - Beloved days Still BELOVED DAYS world distribution by 10FRANCS
Director s note The film Beloved, shot in 1970 in the now Turkish-occupied village of Karmi in Cyprus, functions as the kaleidoscope of the documentary, introducing images of that magical time, and of the island s promising future as a filming destination: a future that was terminated abruptly by the Turkish invasion of 1974. Naturally, the memories and the emotions of whoever experienced these two important events of the seventies, along with the changes that the invasion has brought into the lives and their psyche, are weaved into the documentary. The opening landscape shots are an important element of the documentary s filmic language, predisposing the viewer with a feeling of remembrance and nostalgia, while at the same time symbolizing the course of the characters lives through time. Shots, characterized by simplicity, focus on the faces of the characters, capturing their human dimension. The documentary s atmosphere, moving between realism and fiction through the re-enacted scenes, brings out the color of a world of innocence and carelessness, while at the same time entering the inner world of the characters, and transmitting self-reflections upon their experiences. The documentary s music plays an important part in the narrative flow, completing its poetic approach and transmitting powerful emotions to the viewer. Finally, an innovative element of the documentary is that the characters do not know how the story will evolve, thus capturing realistic and unexpected reactions on camera. The aim of this different narrative approach is to touch the audience on a personal level, encouraging sensitization, awareness and reflection.
Rare photo - Beloved days still George Cosmatos during filmings of The Beloved Karmi Village (Kyrenia District) Cyprus 1970
INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR CONSTANTINOS PATSALIDES -What was the starting point for the beginning of the documentary? I was actually urged to look into the history of Filming in Cyprus going back in the past. So, I accidentally came across the film «The Beloved» filmed in Kyrenia district and more particularly in Karmi village. I was intrigued by the colours and the innocence of the era back then as well as by the grandeur of a Hollywood production that took place in 1970 in Cyprus and more surprisingly in such a small village. -What was your initial goal? Urged by the film «The Beloved» which was filmed in Karmi, currently under Turkish occupation, I tried to depict on the big screen the social reality of the past and at the same time to creatively approach the so much promising progress of the island as to be characterised as a film making destination.
Beloved days still -What were the main issues you came across during your research? First of all I want to mention that George Avraam has played a very crucial role in the whole process. From the very first momment. Apart of being a very good friend he is additionally a very valuable partner. George, signs the script and the production of «Beloved days» creative documentary. I have to mention that he was also the first who demonstrated great confidence and really believed in this project. The most threatening enemy was time which was fighting against us since most of the cast and crew of the film «The Beloved», including both locals and foreigners were elderly. However we managed to get in touched with most of them and we were able to film their valuable stories. After years of research we were also able to find archive material that was really valuable.
Marcello Gatti, famous Italian Cinematographer - Beloved days still Patrick Curtis with Richard Johnson back in Cyprus - Beloved days still BELOVED DAYS world distribution by 10FRANCS
-What is the plot of George Cosmatos film? A beautiful but frustrated housewife begins an affair with a former childhood friend. When her suspicious husband starts to show signs of jealousy, the adulterous couple plot to murder him. I believe that this script was too advanced and pioneering for the conservative society of Cyprus back then in 1970. -Do you believe that Cyprus has the potential of becoming a filming destination for international productions? Yes, I m positive. At the present there are all the necessary means to achieve that. I believe its only amatter of will, vision and good planning on the part of the goverment so as to give attractive incetives to foreign productions. The materialization of this vision will certainly give benefits to several professionals that will be involved. -What were the reactions of the audience after «Beloved days» after the screenings in different International Film Festivals; After talking to several people from the audience and also professionals from the film industry who watched the movie,i realized how deeply they were moved and pleasantly surprised by Beloved Days. May I add here, that the reviews from denoted critics, so far at least,are significantly positive and highly praised the final outcome of the Beloved Days.
BELOVED DAYS world distribution by 10FRANCS Sukey Parnell a fascinating and insightful piece - must see. Carla Assirati Dee Thank you for an amazing film, very moving. Haim Bresheeth thank you for the best doc I have seen in along time! Beloved Days at the Art House - Crouch End Sold out Screening between StarWars and Spectre-James Bond. Wow!
INTERVIEW: PRODUCER GEORGE AVRAAM ON BELOVED DAYS AT CHICAGO EUROPEAN UNION FILM FEST By PATRICK McDONALD Writer, Editorial Coordinator HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com 8/3/2017 Director Constantinos Patsalides & George Avraam Photo credit: Walking Around the World Productions CHICAGO How can the innocence of an entire nation be looked upon with nostalgia and tribute? When in 1970, a small village on the island country of Cyprus was the setting for a film company and a major movie star (Raquel Welch) where four years after, a war started. Writer and producer George Avraam was one of the creators of Beloved Days, a multi-layered documentary that spotlights the making of the 1970 film The Beloved, the celebrity involved, and the irony of the impending political changes, in retrospect. Beloved Days will be screened at the Chicago European Union Film Festival at the Gene Siskel Film Center on March 9th, 2017. Beloved Days is an isolated moment in time, over 40 years ago, that brought an international movie star to Karmi, a small village on the isle of Cyprus. Raquel Welch was there to film The Beloved, directed by George P. Cosmatos (who went on to direct Tombstone in 1993). With
many of the villagers as extras, writer/producer George Avraam and director Constantinos Patalides go back to Karmi and around the world to interview the participants, including producer (and husband to Welch in 1970) Patrick Curtis, and the co-star in the film, Richard Johnson. The Beloved never went anywhere in distribution, but the resonance of its point in time becomes very nostalgic, as four years after the filmmakers left the Karmi village, it was in the middle of an invasion force from Turkey. The two stories of Cyprus and Karmi are expertly balanced in the documentary, as the story of the filming leads indirectly to what is going on today in Cyprus. Just last month, negotiations and peace talks broke off, as the island continues to have a Berlin Wall between the Greek south end, and the Turkish northern territory the former child extras in the 1970 film are now adults facing a political dilemma. HollywoodChi-
cago.com talked with George Avraam about the impact and fallout from his film about the film. HollywoodChicago.com: You wrote, produced and do the on-screen interviews in the documentary. How did you and director Constantinos Patsalides coordinate the look and feel of the film? George Avraam: Beloved Days is a nostalgic documentary, dealing with memories. The documentary s atmosphere, moving between realism and fiction through the re-enacted scenes draws out the color in a world of innocence and carelessness, while at the same time enabling us to delve into the inner world of the characters as they reflect upon their experiences. HollywoodChicago.com: The film is a parallel nostalgia document, both for the filming of the movie The Beloved in 1970 and how the locations for the film was affected by the war
Cinematographer Marcello Gatti and Writer/Producer George Avraam in Beloved Days Photo credit: Walking Around the World Productions
in Cyprus in 1974. Since tensions on the island are still problematic, how did you have to tiptoe around the politics to get what you wanted? Avraam: As artists, we follow the art. For us, it was a big deal that a Hollywood actor and producer were returning to Cyprus after 40 years. We just followed that producer and actor from The Beloved, who wanted to revisit the village of Karmi still under Turkish occupation and see the places where they worked in 1970. We were careful to prioritize the safety of our characters by focusing on substance, and not on any political confrontation. Our characters were also careful not to send the wrong message, or have their visit exploited in any way by the Turkish army, which controls the occupied part of the country. HollywoodChicago.com: As you mentioned, you did manage to get two key players from the film, actor Richard Johnson and producer Patrick Curtis, but the star of film being memorialized Raquel Welch remained elusive. How close did you get to Raquel, and what do you think prevented her from participating? Avraam: Throughout the journey, both the late director George Cosmatos and Raquel Welch were with us, through the memories and confessions of cinematographer Marcello Gatti, still photographer Emilio Larri and co-star Richard Johnson. Our priority is was to respect all the people who were involved with the film. As Raquel s manager told us, she was then busy with the completion of her memoir and her time was very limited. But that contact with her team turned out to be decisive, because it led us to Patrick Curtis, who had a crucial role
Beloved days still BELOVED DAYS world distribution by 10FRANCS
in our documentary. He was the producer of The Beloved, and he gave us the behind-thescenes and scenic footage from Karmi in 1970, and the rights to use excerpts from the movie itself. HollywoodChicago.com: What did you learn about stardom in 1970, that is different from celebrity today, in your research and point of view? Avraam: In our humble opinion, every era has its own rules and people who record that history. I would say judging by our research and the production itself that the people of Karmi still have that movie star system in their hearts today, as they had it in 1970. The visit of Raquel Welch is still etched in their memories, through how they vividly recalled and recounted their feelings and excitement regarding that time. HollywoodChicago.com: If you were to rate the movie result of Hollywood s visit to Cyprus through The Beloved on a 5 point scale, what would you give it? Avraam: The Beloved and its script were far ahead of their time. Just to prove point, in 1970 the mere glimpse of a lady s ankle could still create serious problems and disputes between neighbors in devoutly religious villages like Karmi let alone imagining someone who would dare flirt with his friend s wife, or indeed have an affair with her, as was depicted in the film. The woman of Cyprus enjoyed respect and were pretty absolute when it came to issues of honor. They certainly didn t tolerate any shady behavior, cheeky comments or inappropriate advances from men. But in my opinion, the film The Beloved is rated 5 out of 5 stars. For various reasons, the film was not as successful as was expected, but for me and the story in
the documentary the most important thing is that a bit of Hollywood embraced Cyprus, and Cyprus in return embraced the Hollywood that came to them. HollywoodChicago.com: How do you think that feeling best came out in your finished documentary film? Avraam: You can see that flavor in Beloved Days, especially through how all the actors and crew from that 1970 film embraced us, and worked with us through their memories of the film and its process our research lasted four years, and actual production took another two. For me, their pleasant surprise and their willingness to share personal moments in this nostalgic and bittersweet journey was perhaps the most enriching part of the experience. HollywoodChicago.com: What, in your opinion and point of view, is the most tragic part of the ongoing divide and warlike territorial domination of the island of Cyprus, and what is the overriding feeling of the natives there? Avraam: Even though it s been 43 years since the Turkish invasion in Cyprus, 40,000 foreign troops remain. It is an open wound, and the peoples pain and desire to return to their ancestral homes are perhaps stronger than ever. The overriding opinion in the region is that everyone wants to have the right to move freely and live wherever they want, without any military occupation. HollywoodChicago.com: Finally, what did you learn about the memories of old men in creating the film, and how important the role of movies are in relating to and connecting the past?
Avraam: Personally, for the creative and production team, it was a great opportunity to get a first-hand understanding of our heritage and all this through the art of cinema. Our motto was the past inspires the future. That is what inspired us to start this long journey, and then complete the documentary. Cyprus is a warm and welcoming country, and with its 330 days of sunshine per year it has all the capabilities to sustain and support more film production. Hopefully world cinema will return there soon, and again turn its lights toward this beautiful jewel of an island in the eastern Mediterranean. Beloved days still
REVIEW 2017 REVIEW 2017 Here is a documentary that will enlighten film enthusiasts and travel fanatics. It s the story of what transpired almost 50 years ago on the island of Cyprus, when sex symbol/actress Raquel Welch invaded the small village of Karmi, to film The Beloved a film directed by George Cosmatos ( First Blood, Tombstone ) in 1970. Director Constantinos Patsalides interviews those involved in the film casting director, producer Patrick Curtis (then husband to Welch), actor Nicos Shiafkalis, as well as cinematographer Marcello Gatti ( The Battle of Algiers ) and lead actor Richard Johnson ( Zombie ), both of whom have since recently died and those villagers who were either in the film as extras or recall stories about the production passed on by relatives. We learn how important this seldom-seen film was and remains to Cypriots and how the island has changed since the Turkish invasion in 1974. There is a bittersweet tone of nostalgia and sadness now that Karmi is still a Turkish occupied village, but Patsalides facilitates a hopeful atmosphere as he follows Curtis and Johnson returning to the island for a screening of the film. It s a fascinating documentary, especially for those who appreciate films about films. English&Greek with English subtitles). https://keeping-it-reel.com/2017/03/06/ceuff-2017-2-nights-tillmorning-beloved-days-franca-chaos-and-creation/
REVIEW 2017 REVIEW 2017 BELOVED DAYS Hollywood glamour unexpectedly came to the small town of Karmi in Cyrpus in 1970 when sex symbol Raquel Welch arrived to make the Greek drama Beloved. Through interviews with people who were there, as well as reenactments, this modest documentary observes people who may well have transformed Welch and her crew more than she transformed their charming home. The 75-minute film seems best suited for a DVD supplement, but the stark landscape of Cyprus will be impressive on the Silver's big screens. By Pat Padua
Full house! Q&A with the director and the producer. Feb.2016
PRESS CONFERENCE FOR BELOVED DAYS PREMIERE IN HUNGARY 2016
Full house! Premiere in Hungary Sept.2016
BELOVED DAYS awarded creative documentary BELOVED DAYS world distribution by 10FRANCS Format DCP 24 1:1.85 Duration 1:15 D.Stereo Cyprus/Italy/UK TRAILER https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tvtvydvaz8g OFFICIAL LINKS www.beloveddays.com Facebook.com/BelovedDaysDocumentary @BELOVEDDAYS