Never On Sunday, a new favourite

Never On Sunday is a 1960s comedy film set in Greece. It's one of those films that I found while wandering among the audio-visual shelves (or shelf as it were) at my university. And I think that I can safely call it one of my new favourites.

The plot is sort of a Pygmalion retelling about a wannabe philosopher from America named Homer (Jules Dessin, who also directs) and his attempts to educate and elevate Ilya (Melina Mercouri), a Greek prostitute. It's a light little film that celebrates both the ancient and modern Greek cultures. But the thing that stands out for me is just how progressive it is, especially for its time period.

Ilya is probably the only cinematic prostitute I've seen who is never beaten, or threatened, or raped. She is completely in charge of her own life, and picks clients according to whether or not she likes them, as seen in a memorable scene featuring two American sailors. She is financially stable, and is able to skip whole days so that she can go see Greek tragedies. But most importantly, she really enjoys what she does.

Even though we never really learn her backstory, it seems that prostitution was never something that Ilya was pushed into. Throughout the film she fights against what she doesn't like, and completely gives her life to those pastimes she enjoys. Every time she comes across something she doesn't like, she either ignores it or changes it.  One of the funniest moments in the film is when she gives her version of Medea. Instead of Medea killing her children, she and Jason resolve all their conflicts and go to the seashore!

In the second half of the film, Homer buys Ilya's time so that he educate her in all the academics that he holds dear, namely literature and philosophy. The reason that he fails in reforming her is because he never fully sees Ilya as a woman, rather as a concept, an idea that he needs to form into what he considers perfection.

But Ilya is perfect in her own way. She exudes love and joy in everything she does, and finds pleasure in the simple things that life has to offer. And Homer can't look past her profession which is ultimately why he is unworthy of her affections. 

I think Ilya might be one of my favourite characters. She isn't vilified by the other characters, except for Homer. Her clients instead become her family, and the other prostitutes in the film look up to her and admire her independence. And the way she leads them on a revolt at the end is both hilarious and so satisfying.

To see a character so comfortable in their own skin is rare in film. But to see such a character in a profession that Hollywood has never quite gotten right (looking at you Pretty Woman) is so refreshing. Considering that Never On Sunday came out just before the second-wave feminist movement is so astounding, it blows my mind whenever I think about it. I hope that more people discover this gem for themselves, and fall in love with Ilya just like I did. 


References: 
Never on Sunday 1960, DVD, MGM Home Video, directed by Jules Dessin.