Dear Sir/ Madam,
We would like to post a message on the Consortium of Hellenic Studies Librarians
listserv. about a documentary called the Network, about the history of illicit
antiquities.
THE NETWORK, a concise history of recent illicit trade in antiquities
A new film tries to expose the network preying on Greek heritage. Does it
succeed?
Described as a documentary about the illicit trade of Greek antiquities, Network
shows the international character of that trade and exposes the interconnections
among those prominently involved in it. Network does a great job of covering a
vast subject with an extensive cast of characters without being preachy or
dull. Having some knowledge of the individual cases presented in the film, it
was especially gratifying for me to see so many strands pulled together. But
someone with no background in the subject would equally enjoy it--or be
appalled by what it exposes. Yet for everything it hauls into the light of day,
Network leaves as many others in the shadows and murk of this vast illicit web.
Network's writer and director, Andreas Apostolidis use a back-and-forth approach
between narrated scenes and interviews with archaeologists, curators and
collectors, dealers, investigative journalists, law enforcement officials, and
lawyers. Most of the filming was in Greece, England, and New York, with spots
in Geneva, Israel, and elsewhere. The footage is either of interviews (set in
offices, galleries, private collections and museums, or at archaeological
sites) or locales (suspected antiquities warehouses, the Geneva Freeport,
auction houses). It has narration in Greek with English subtitles, which also
appear when interview subjects speak a language other than English.
Writer / Director Andreas Apostolidis
Associate Producer Rea Apostolides
Research Nikolas Zirganos, Rea Apostolides
Duration: 60?, 80', Digital-BETA. Greek and International version.
Co-produced with Illusion I. Kaspiris Production, ERT and the Greek Film Center.
With the support of the MEDIA Programme of the EU and the J.F. Costopoulos
Foundation.
REVIEWS Archaeology Magazine executive editor Mark Rose: Untangling the
Antiquities Web
http://www.archaeology.org/online/reviews/network.html
Ton Cremer's review at the Museum Security Network
(
http://www.museum-security.org/thenetwork.html)
For dvd sale for the US and Canada:
Contact SAFE (network(a)savingantiquities.org)
ANEMON (info(a)anemon.gr)
Rea Apostolides