Synopsis
During Easter weekend in an immigrant neighborhood, a middle-aged man prepares to tell his aging mother that a dream has ended.
Our Review
Universal in theme, this short film explores the bonds that unite families in touching, dramatic ways. This film by Tony Asimakopoulos portrays Manny in a boiling cauldron of cultural expectations, class constrictions, family duty, failed marriage and his own personal aspirations to move on without guilt. Stunning visuals, superb cinematography, commendable direction and acting.
Director Biography - TONY ASIMAKOPOULOS
Tony Asimakopoulos is a first-generation Canadian filmmaker of Greek descent. Prior work includes RETURN TO PARK EX (2017), a doc about a storied immigrant neighbourhood in Montréal, and the acclaimed feature FORTUNATE SON (2012) about a Greek family dealing with addiction and generational trauma, which was one of the highest-grossing theatrical docs in Quebec in 2012, and played Amsterdam (IDFA), Thessaloniki, the Montreal Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, and the Los Angeles, Chicago, London and Sydney Greek Film Festivals. His films have also played TIFF, Locarno, Clermont-Ferrand, Göteborg and Melbourne. He co-wrote and directed a series of comedy shorts for CBC’s Wiretap with Jonathan Goldstein (of Gimlet Media's Heavyweight), and the genre short A XMAS MEMORY (2013), made as part of the TIFF Talent Lab. In addition to his film work, Asimakopoulos has mentored and taught media production to youth-at-risk.
Director Statement
Good Times Coming evolved alongside a CBC documentary I made about the immigrant neighborhood in Montreal where I live (Return To Park Ex) and where the story takes place. The neighborhood, its people and their rituals are as important as the story, in particular the heavily enclaved Greeks of my parents' generation whose world is rolling itself up right behind them, as they cling and grasp for some sense of continuity. I originally cast an elderly Greek woman - one of my neighbors - to play the mother, but she backed out because she "might get too busy" cooking for her grandchildren (I'm not kidding), so I reached out to Maria Vacratsis of My Big Fat Greek Wedding (the bundt cake lady, for those who remember) and the film naturally became more of an absurd dramedy... but marinated in the authentic atmosphere of the neighborhood. And everything in this film more or less happened to me. So it's kind of a docu-dramedy… about the end of a dream, or a view of life, and those of us who choose to move on... with or without the guilt.
Credits
TONY ASIMAKOPOULOS Director Fortunate Son (documentary), Return To Park Ex
TONY ASIMAKOPOULOS Writer
TONY ASIMAKOPOULOS Producer
CHRISTOS SOURLIGAS Key Cast "Manny"
MARIA VACRATSIS Key Cast ""Mom" or "Ma"" My Big Fat Greek Wedding 1 &2
Specifications
Project Type: Short
Runtime: 14 minutes 21 seconds
Completion Date: March 11, 2022
Country of Origin: Canada
Country of Filming: Canada
Language: English
Shooting Format: Digital
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Film Color: Color
First-time Filmmaker: No
Student Project: No