The Apaches of Athens (1930) by Dimitrios Gaziadis was considered lost for decades, until a nitrate copy of the film was found at the Cinémathèque Française four years ago. The restoration project was the result of a collaboration between the Greek Film Archive (Tainiothiki tis Ellados) and La Cinémathèque Francaise along with the laboratory L’Immaginne Ritrovata, the Greek Music Centre, the Greek Radio National Orchestra and the Greek National Opera’s singers. This project was made possible by a generous donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The film, with many scenes shot on location, constitutes a precious document as it exquisitely captures some of the most important landmarks of Athens and its outskirts, as well as daily life in the 1930s. The image restoration in 4K and 35mm has been carried on from a 35mm nitrate positive copy, with original French intertitles held by La Cinémathèque française. The Apaches of Athens was the first and the last attempt to synchronise moving images with a sound-ondisc system in Greece, using a semiimprovised setup according to press coverage of the time. The reconstruction of the music track has been based on the operetta of the same title, which the film was loosely adapted from, and on three new songs that were composed especially for the film. The final sound mix on the DCP includes original recordings of that period and a new recording of the Greek Radio National Orchestra and the National Opera’s singers, conducted by Anastasios Simeonidis.

Elektra Venaki