The Fairy and the Man is the Greek 1969 rom-com version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set on the scenic island of Crete. The citizens of Chania are split into two groups—supporters of the Fourtounakis family and supporters of the Vrontakis clan—a rivalry that dates back generations.
Katerinio Fourtounakis (Aliki Vougiouklaki) is the apple of her father’s eye and a key agitator in the family’s rivalry. Manousos Vrontakis (Dimitris Papamichael) arrives back from his studies in Athens on the very night the Fourtounakis family celebrate the engagement of Katerinio to the wealthy, but unappealing Skandalakis.
When Katerinio and Manousos meet, Cupid’s arrows hit their targets, fair and square. Manousos vows to woo her away from Skandalakis regardless of their family histories.
In keeping with the Vougiouklaki canon, The Fairy and the Man is a visual and aural delight thanks to cinematography by Yorgos Arvanitis and another noteworthy music score by Nikos Mamangakis.
