Watch Amerika Square

Amerika Square, the 2016 Greek film directed by Yannis Sakaridis, is a subtle and thought-provoking drama about immigration, racism, friendship, and resilience. The movie tells the stories of three characters whose lives intersect in Amerika Square, a public square in Athens where migrants, hustlers, and anti-immigrant activists coexist uneasily.

The first character we meet is Nakos (played by Yannis Stankoglou), a middle-aged Greek nationalist who works in a butcher shop and dreams of purifying his country from the foreign invaders. Nakos is bitter, paranoid, and xenophobic, but he also has a soft spot for his neighbor, a young Syrian refugee named Tarek (played by Makis Papadimitriou), who sells coffee in the square and dreams of escaping to Germany. Tarek, in turn, befriends another outsider, a Nigerian musician named Billy (played by Vassilis Koukalani), who tries to make a name for himself in the local scene but faces obstacles from the authorities, the locals, and his own insecurities.

The three men form an unlikely bond of companionship, sharing cigarettes, drinks, and stories, despite their different backgrounds and beliefs. Nakos, who initially sees Tarek as a nuisance and a threat, gradually warms up to him, realizing that they have more in common than he thought. Tarek, who is traumatized by the war and the loss of his family, finds solace in Nakos' company, even if he doesn't agree with his politics. Billy, who is a flamboyant and charismatic performer, becomes the glue that brings them together, entertaining them with his music and his wit, and reminding them of the power of art to transcend borders and prejudice.

As the plot unfolds, we witness the challenges and the contradictions of living in a society that is both open and closed, welcoming and hostile, progressive and conservative. We see how Nakos' fear and hatred of the Other are fueled by his personal failures and fears, how Tarek's hope and resilience are tested by the bureaucracy and the bigotry of the system, and how Billy's creativity and rebellion are shaped by his cultural identity and his personal demons. We also see how the square itself is a microcosm of the larger world, where the clashes and the harmonies of different cultures and ideologies are played out, with unpredictable results.

The cinematography and the soundtrack of Amerika Square are impressive, capturing the gritty and vibrant atmosphere of Athens, the contrasts between its ancient and modern architectures, and the soundscape of its diverse communities. The acting is also superb, with the three main actors delivering nuanced and convincing performances that reflect the complexity and the humanity of their characters. The script, written by Sakaridis and Vangelis Mourikis, is smart and engaging, avoiding the clichés and the simplifications that often plague movies about immigration and nationalism.

Amerika Square is not an easy film to watch, as it deals with sensitive and contentious topics that are still relevant today. However, it is a film that deserves to be watched, as it offers a deep and resonant exploration of the human condition, the social dynamics, and the moral dilemmas that arise when people from different cultures and backgrounds meet and interact. The movie doesn't preach or judge, but rather invites the viewers to reflect and empathize, to see the world through the eyes of the characters, and to appreciate the beauty and the complexity of our shared humanity.

Amerika Square is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.