Few films can boast as many striking images as this first instalment of Theo Angelopoulos' projected trilogy. But while cinematographer Andreas Sinanos makes sublime use of the river and railside settings, there's no escaping the fact that this is very much a summation of the themes and symbols that the director has explored to greater effect in the likes of The Travelling Players and Days Of '36.
Moreover, he's also frequently linked the tragedies of ancient times and the Greek experience of the 20th century, and here the tale of a musician who absconds with his father's bride irresistibly recalls the myth of Paris, Helen and Menelaus. Visually, this can't be bettered, but the superficial storyline and cypher-like characters are undeniably disappointing.