THE CRETAN DIRECTOR – BIO – CULTIVATOR
«The job of the director and the cultivator of biological products complements on another. When you work in a field you realize how tiny you are while when you direct you feel you so powerful», underlined during an interview to «In-On» magazine the well-known Cretan director Manousos Manousakis.
I was born -he continued- in 1950 in Athens and grew up within Cretan culture. I studied the art of the cinema in Great Britain in the «London School of Film Technique».
Cretan cculture helped me -he clarified- to direct the TV series such as «For a woman and a car», «For Anna» and the «Borders of love» which were shot in Crete, while my studies in Great Britain and the coincidences I confronted there, played a vital role to start directing long movies and not short ones.
In all the films I direct I use -he continued- characters that have peculiarities in the local societies they live. I became widely-known in Greece and especially in Crete since it is my place of origins and because of my TV series however I like all forms of directing for instance: cinema, theatre, TV.
I started directing in 1971 -he referred- with my long-run movie «Bartholomew» and in 1986 with TV series.
Parallel to directing, he said «12 years ago I started cultivating biological products at my wife’s property at Sellassia in Laconia, which stretches at 150.000 m2. When we took over, the area was destroyed by fire. Our pride: however, for our land activated our will to create the present olive grove, which is situated at the foot of Mount. Parnon, about 620 meters above sea level, taking care of it as if it is our own child. We took care of every tree that already existed while we planted new with respect to the traditional variety of the region, the koutsouroelia (the olive of the logs). This variety is durable to the beneficial wind of the slopes that freshens up the olive grove all year round.
This kind of cultivation is regarded as a parched one; therefore the olive oil produced is the real sap of the olive tree. During those 12 years we managed to produce olive oil unique in aromas, taste, texture and color through strict biological and environmentally-friendly cultivation. The olive oil that is produced in our land is crushed in temperature of 22 degrees Celsius so as the organic ingredients within the olive oil are kept alive. The olive-press machinery is carefully cleaned before the process so as the dregs of previous olive oil is not mixed with ours. Before bottling, our olive oil undergoes the strictest chemical analyses. After ten years’ attempt we decided to bottle our product estimating that the quantity was sufficient to proudly share it with our friends. Today we produce four tons of olive oil which is sold to individuals. The trees are growing and we hope, if everything goes well and we do not destroy our beautiful planet, to raise our production and cover a bigger part in the Greek market».
CURRICULUM VITAE
LONG FILMS
1998: «Red dragon», 1985: «The woman who looked like scarecrow», 1975: «The noblemen», 1971: «Bartholomew».
VIDEO FILMS
«Strange meeting», «Reverse route».
DOCUMENTARIES
«Greek people abroad», «Creators in the periphery», «Traveling by Evangelistria».
THEATRICAL PLAYS
2009: «Mousetrap», 2001: «Rum lemon and white wine», 2000: «8 women are accused», 1995: «My nerves, my pills and a taxi to leave».
1994: «Mousetrap», 1993: «What an idiot», 1988: «Hellas café», 1987: «Magical trip», 1986: «A fairy tale with riddles».
TELEVISION SERIES
2007-2008: «Lighthouse», 2006-2007: «For Anna», 2005-2006: «Secret paths», 2004-2005: «Don’t say goodbye», 2003-2004: «The game of forgiveness», 2002-2003: «Love came from far away», 2001-2002: «For a woman and a car», 2000-2001: «Cupid a thief», 2000-2001: «Innocent or guilty», 1989- 1990: «Their best years» – B. Nemeas.
TV MOVIES
2005: «A stranger among us», 2003: «Paradise for three».
Other activities: Cultivation of biological products mainly olives and olive oil – sailing – astronomy.