Also known as:
Verspielte Nächte (Germany, original title)
Hamenes Nyhtes (Greece)

Germany-Greece 1997, 35mm, colour, 86'

SYNOPSIS

When the father of Maria, a young Greek woman, dies unexpectedly, she flies to Berlin to visit her elder sister Helena, whom she believes to be living and working as a successful dancer. The two sisters have not seen each other for years. It's not long before Maria discovers Helena's secret: she has given up dancing and is working as a "croupier" in an illegal gambling club in Berlin. She is also a victim of her own addiction to gambling.

After many difficulties, misunderstandings and dangers, the two sisters become closer. Maria's brief visit in Berlin is not only a catalyst for Helena's life, but for Maria's own life too.

CREDITS & CAST

Directed by:
Angeliki Antoniou
Screenplay:
Angeliki Antoniou, Kriton Kalaitzidis
Producer:
Jost Hering Filme (Berlin)
Co-producer:
Angeliki Antoniou
Production:
Jost Hering Filme (Berlin), Greek Film Centre, ZDF, Filmboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH
Direction of Photography:
Sebastian Richter, Pio Corradi
Editing:
Catherine Steghens
Sound:
Frank Behnke, Nikos Papadimitriou
Music:
Dimitris Papadimitriou
Sets:
Gabriele Wolf, Anastasia Arseni
Costumes:
Gabriele Binder, Anastasia Arseni
Cast:
Jasmin Tabatabai, Vicky Volioti, Sharon Brauner, Frank Stieren, André Hennicke, Andreas Mannkopff, Zazie de Paris, Heike Steinweg, Stefan Lohse

DISTRIBUTION

Germany:
BASIS FILM VERLEIH
Switzerland:
LOOK NOW!
Greece:
SPENTZOS FILM

WORLD SALES

DVD RELEASE

Amazon.de:
In German language, with English subtitles
Amazon.com:
In German language, with English subtitles
Amazon.co.uk:
In German language, with English subtitles

FESTIVALS & AWARDS (SELECTION)

PRESS

TAGES SPIEGEL (Germany)

Something different than the usual films about immigrants. A film about love that is everywhere and nowhere and that touches people when they least expect it.

Thomas Eckert

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG (Germany)

A convincingly atmospheric ambiance

Hans - Jörg Rother

FRANKFURTER TAGESSCHAU (Germany)

Images of poetic power

BERLINER MORGEN POST (Germany)

Nights gambled away, a piece of contemporary cinematographic dialogue...

Dieter Strunz

STADT REVUE Nr.11 (Germany)

The minimal directing of this ravishing story is indeed courageous!

Carla Despineux

GILDE KINO (Germany)

A woman's film that men should see.

Coc

ALLEGRA (Germany)

Film director Angeliki Antoniou proves that even a sensitive film can be thrilling!

FRITZ (Germany)

A little ode of great human feelings without overstatements and therefore that much more intense and with deeply buried secret passions.

Uwe Bettenbühl

HAMBURGER ABENDBLATT (Germany)

Αngeliki Antoniou has succeeded in making a low profile but penetrating film on dependencies of every kind, on the will for independence and on the attempt to seek help which comes at a price.

Clelia Gonzalez Spina

ATHENS NEWS (Greece)

The real strength of the drama is in its script, particularly its realism. The film has credible dialogue and reactions and the story swings -like a gambler's life- between glamour and grime.

Angelike Contis

KATHIMERINI (Greece)

Angeliki Antoniou examines mentalities and life conditions quietly, atmospherically and cautiously. She sketches the conflict between the modern world and tradition, the microcosm of the Greek provinces and the vast world of the European megacity that lacks all support mechanisms.

Maria Katsounaki

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS (Greece)

A beautiful film

Iason Triantafillidis

worldmovies.net

Nights Gambled Away is an insightful drama. Whilst the film is serious in its approach, the pair brilliantly carry off some utterly funny scenes. The script is well written and the supporting cast help the two crazy sisters achieve their desired goals of burying their pasts once and for all.

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