BAREFOOT BATTALION

Inspired by the tragedy of the German Occupation of Greece during the war, Tallas made Barefoot Battalion. Set in an occupied country racked by suffering and starvation, the film tells the story of 160 children, who, having been kicked out of their reformatory by the Germans, are transformed into a kind-hearted band of heroes, stealing from the Germans and the black-marketeers, in order to keep themselves and those around them alive. Tallas achieved a wonderful neorealist film, avoiding the traps of melodrama with which the topic was rife, and reproducing the atmosphere of sheer desperation that had taken possession of Thessaloniki, a city surrendered to a harsh winter with no hope in sight. The editing and rhythm of the film bear out Rene Claire, who placed Tallas among the great film editors of the world. The film was nominated for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award, ant it won first prize at the Edinburgh Film Festival.