Modern Greeks: Michael Cacoyannis

The director of the Oscar nominated "Zorba the Greek", erudite, cosmopolitan and creative has been involved not only in the film making but also in the theater, opera, script writing and lyrics, successfully uniting the Greek and the European culture. The worldwide presentation of the ancient Greek tragic plays, in its natural environment -the Greek landscape- is considered his biggest achievement. Born in Limassol, Cyprus. As a young man, Cacoyannis was sent by his family to England to become a lawyer. However, after producing Greek-language programs for the BBC during World War II, Cacoyannis found an interest in film instead. After having trouble finding a directing job in the British film industry, Cacoyannis returned to Greece, and in 1953 he made his first film, Windfall in Athens. Cacoyannis has worked on many occasions with the Greek actress Irene Papas. In 1971, he teamed up once more with Papas to the film The Trojan Women, starting Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn