Corridor
Character study

29/12/2008



The two main characters in this film are the archetypical male and female, in a long-term relationship. Externally, they are perfectly settled in their lives, and financially independent. However, in their personal everyday contact, beyond their exterior, they are governed by the complete lack of interaction between them, an almost sickening immobility.
As far as their emotional portrayal is concerned, we find ourselves immersed in their fictional world, in their conscience. In there, the terrible war that is waging can only be concluded with absolute destruction. The characters were in love in the past, convinced that a child would complete their happiness. However, That was the key point that begun reversing their relationship from the ultimate love to the ultimate hatred, the loss of their unborn child. As the French psychiatrist and philosopher Lacan Jacques observed in his theory of redeployment, it only takes one earth-shattering event to completely reverse the individual’s emotions and views of the Other. This film walks us through the slow and steady path of the final deconstruction of the characters, showing us their emotional instability, resembling to insanity, and the unavoidable end.
Valentinos Kokkinos, the male character appears as a low key individual, deeply hurt, obsessive, self absorbed. He has obvious issues with intimacy, never being able to articulate his problems or needs to his companion. In essence, he is always absent.
Melpo Colombou, the female character. She appears superior to her companion, dominant, intense and dynamic. Her femininity subdues her peers, and presents communicational skills and extrovert character. She is a business woman, successful in her profession.
Their only common point left is self punishment. The absence of interaction, even the most common small talk is unbearable to them, has led Valentinos to obesity, and Melpo to the verge of anorexia.
Summarizing the above, the psyche of the two characters is imminently tragic. These are two people that have been torturing themselves for too long, slowly falling into depression and denial, that only finds a way out through their conscience, their fictional little world. The agony and the pain that their once unconditional love has become, can be witnessed even in their slightest movement, and that is their punishment.