Cine Europa: Proti Fora Nonos

Proti Fora Nonos, or Little Greek Godfather is a comedy film about an 11- year old boy named Alex who was sent to Crete by his politician father as the latter's substitute for the baptism of the child of a local party cadre. The presence of Alex's father was important to secure votes and to promote democracy (however it is defined) in Crete, but as he was too busy to go himself, Alex was assigned an important mission: to be a godfather and to read his father's prepared speech.

But everything is not as easy as it seems. Alex, being brought up in America, was unfamiliar with local customs. He couldn't even speak straight Greek. Being made to eat local delicacies and to compliment the cook regardless of the taste, and being advised to say yes to all the demands of the prominent families in Crete, young Alex had to struggle and to sacrifice his own views and opinions.

With the help of his young friends, he was able to succeed in his mission and do more. With his own speech (he did not read his father's) and with the speech of his friend, the oft-rebuked brother of the baptized child, a new democracy is defined wherein not only humans, but also hedgehogs are treated with dignity and equality.

This is a comedy film about growing up and about asserting one's own views and standing up to one's principles. It also shows an ugly side of politics wherein politicians promise everything and anything just to get the votes they need to be in power.