Although my review can be taken as bias, since this production is from my home country, I strongly feel that it is indeed a masterpiece of modern television no matter which country it could have been filmed in.
This series is the most expensive and artistically complete one filmed in Greece. I have watched many series/movie, local and international, original or based on books, but I can safely say that this one is the only production based on a book that the TV adaptation is better than the book. And please do not get me wrong. The book itself is very very good too. But it would only be enough for a movie. But the decision of Victoria Hislop to decline Hollywood offers and allow Greek producers adapt her book into a 26 episode long series was the reason why the series' scenario had to be enriched with more stories, characters and descriptions of the surroundings than it would have been needed for a movie. Thus, having read the book after watching the series is what made me conclude to the above.
The photography, direction, music are impeccable, and it doesn't need to be a film enthusiast or expert to recognize that. The story itself grips your heart. The direction and photography travels you through history and sets you into the story as an observer. The music plays with your heart's rhythm so much that you can empathize with all characters. And the natural scenery of Crete where it was filmed makes you feel you want to dip your feet in the crystal clear waters, even visit to see the location and the island of Spinalonga that used to be the leper colony of the story.
What pleasantly surprised me though, was the acting. And not only that of the professional actors that are expected to do well, but also that of the kids. My everlasting complaint of Greek television is that kids never act naturally in front of the camera. They pose, and tell their lines without really understanding what they say. But in this production, the kids are acting so good, that it makes me forget that there was a camera filming the whole thing. The extras were also ones that did very well in their time in front of the camera. Natural, as if they were indeed inhabitants of the little village of the story, not sticking out of the crowd, but all of them so genuine that you feel they aren't just extras but characters of the main story.
The story is not one that makes the viewer expect a happy ending. The story itself is as unpredictable and fateful like life itself. Fear, stress, sadness, happiness and eagerness, right and wrong, doom and salvation, all of them feelings we come across in real life are generously offered to the viewers. But through all that, one remains higher, and that is hope. Hope that even in the darkest times of one's life is a ray of light and optimism.
I know that the series have been subtitled and sold mainly in the Balcan area, but I do really hope the rights will be sold and the series will be subtitled in more languages. Not because it is a Greek product in times of economical depression, but because it is an artistic masterpiece and more people should have the opportunity to travel along this emotional roller-coaster that is this series.
