A welcome far from warm. According to several Greek media, the filmmaker Costa-Gavras, who realizes for the first time a film in its country of origin, would participate in «self-help» of the government of Alexis Tsipras. The press accuses the director of having accepted help from the State in order to adapt the book by Yanis Varoufakis, Conversations between adults , in which the former Finance minister tells the «behind the scenes» of the Greek debt crisis of 2015. 85 years old, Costa-Gavras is the author of numerous films, political and historical, such as Z , The Confession or Amen .

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«I am making films for 50 years. Myself as well as my films have been criticized sometimes for the worse but sometimes for the better,» said the director, whose remarks were published on Saturday by the news Agency the Greek Ana . «However, it has never been written, that I had taken money to promote the policy and plans» of a party. «A part of the press of my country of origin insults me in the worst ways», is upset, pointing out that it was his first shoot in Greece.

This new production tells the story of the arm-wrestle in 2015, of the former Greek Finance minister, elected in the same year under the banner of the party of Alexis Tsipras, Syriza, with creditors, EU and IMF, in the hope of alleviating the strict policies of austerity. Under the pressure of creditors, Yanis Varoufakis, has resigned and Greece, on the edge of a default of payment, then has been forced to pursue austerity measures in exchange for a new international loan.

For this film, Costa-Gavras has received assistance from the State of approximately 630.000 euros, in the framework of a recent program launched by the government in order to strengthen the audiovisual production of the country. This aid represents 35% of the expenses of filming Costa-Gavras in Greece. After the publication this week of the announcement of this funding, many Greek media opposed to Alexis Tsipras attacked the filmmaker. This film in the making «is an effort that is indirect promotion of the government (…) by means of Costa-Gavras», read it in some comments of the press.

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the Creator in recent years of the european party of the left Diem25 and the party’s Greek Mera25, Yanis Varoufakis remains a political controversial penalty to gain popularity in his country. In the middle of shooting in Athens until April 20, Costa-Gavras continued his work in Paris, Riga and London. The film’s release is scheduled for the end of 2019.