Overrated

Absolutely Brilliant!

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

We were staying in Lindos when they were making this film. There was a poster up in the village square asking for people to be extras. Unfortunately it was for the week after we left so couldn't do it. Most, if not all, of the cast and crew were staying in the village. Never got to meet Jacqueline Bisset, but stood behind James Fox one day, in a little shop where he was buying fresh beef tomatoes and bread, amongst other things. Was too in awe of a famous film star to say hello. Have to give this film 10/10, if for nothing else than whenever I watch it it brings back wonderful memories of one of our best Summer holidays ever.

High Season is a film to be viewed over and over. It's like a trip to the Greek Islands. The element of crime, along with the "love-gone-wrong" factor, the elegance and charm of Jackie Bisset, and of course, the unapologetically gorgeous setting of the Agean Sea, all lend a magical air to this film. It will appeal to anyone who had ever been to the islands. One can almost smell the heady marine breezes billowing about. Kenneth Branagh adds that touch of "Duh?" and his mousey whiney wife is the perfect foil. When he becomes enamored of Jackie he is has all the charm of a besotted fish! but he's still in character. The fact that Jackie's character fails to capture in her photo journal The Light of Greece, only emphasizes the fact that Greece is to be experienced, NOT read about or understood through pictures. Clare Peploe is pure genius with this film. It's a constant treat!

Terrifically fun movie from the 1980s starring a beautiful Jacqueline Bisset as a photographer dealing with personal and monetary problems, though her story is woven among several other subplots involving Kenneth Branagh (in an early and funny turn), James Fox (having emerged from a self-imposed retirement), Irene Papas (as a hilariously traditional Greek mother who hates the encroachment of tourism and modernism but has a penchant for lipstick and other modern beauty products), along with Sebastian Shaw (the original Anakin Skywalker from "Return of the Jedi"--look him up). The location is luminous--so much so that it prompted me to go out of my way and travel to Lindos a few years ago. It's a jewel of a town, on the southern side of the island of Rhodes, with a castle ruin overlooking whitewashed buildings and fluorescent blue waters. Might not be on the level of "Annie Hall", but a fun, diverting movie nonetheless.

It's really not awful, although not altogether good. Some commentors decried the lack of comedy in this supposed comedy. Well, it's really a lot more like irony, than laughing out loud. Wasn't much of a nude scene by Jackie Bisset either, but it could have been worse. She is still awfully beautiful, and nailed her character. There were a number of wry scenarios, and you have to give some credit to Irene Papas, here, too. I have to compliment the cinematography, but the Greek Isles scenery probably makes it easy to do well at that. Overall the film was just OK. Grade: C-