Jules Dassin

By Tea Vassilliadou Photographs by Nikos Dalaris

We demand the return of the Parthenon Marbles because we want to reunite a unity.

I dream for the smile to come back to the faces of the Greeks

The man who loved Greece through Melina Merkouri's face. The creator who worshiped Melina Merkouri on the face of Greece.
The artist that made his love famous by depicting it on the face of the Seventh Art. A citizen of the world. A citizen of our country, he has dedicated many years in the struggle, which he and Melina started, for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum.

The creator, whom the history of the cinema has placed among the few chosen and whose pictures remain classic and are part of the treasure of movie making, knows how to see far and at the same time how to frame the problems and light them in the best way to bring out their real context. Speaking with him one feels the warmth of sincerity, the unselfishness of offering and the sensitivity of the high quality. Of the man and of the artist.
For many the movies by Jules Dassin are a source of inspiration and joy. For all his deeds and his consistence in a just cause are the ground for the realisation of the essence to turn life into art. Head of the Melina Merkouri Institution he never stops to work, to hope, to dream - dreams of reality.

How optimistic do you feel about the great issue of the return of the Parthenon Marbles?

We know it's very difficult, but I do believe they will come when there will be sensitivity - mainly that - and understanding of what these marbles mean to the Greek people. They don't understand that you cannot take away what people are most proud of. It's wrong! It's wrong! It's wrong! Most people in England agree that is wrong and there are many, even in Blare's party who firmly support our cause. It's too bad that we haven't finished our museum. That would be very important. But the museum is going to be very beautiful.

Do you know whether Melina was aware - when she placed this demand for the return of the Parthenon sculpures - that she would open the big issue of the return of all stolen treasure during colonialism?

The fact is that as soon as Greece gained its independence, it placed this demand for the return of the Marbles. It was not meant to be at that time. The day after Melina was appointed the Minister of Culture a BBC reporter interviewed her and asked "What will be your first act as Minister?" and she said "I will ask for the return of the Marbles" and, mind you, she didn't call them Elgin Marbles, because she declared that there is no such thing. That reanimated the whole thing. At the beginning nothing seemed to work but nowadays it has become a popular demand and we are called for lectures by various Universities, many in the United Kingdom. Almost every cultural organisation recognises the just cause and we are getting a tremendous help.
Some say "Why take them back. The Marbles are an international treasure. Wherever they are - in the British Museum, as the case is - everybody can visit and admire them. Why put a demand of ownership for something that belongs to humanity?" What do you say about that?

First, Greece is very conciliatory and has said that ownership is not the issue. In answer to your question, and their "question" the demand replies to the need for unity. The Marbles are part of a unity. It makes no sense that part of the Marble are here and the other half are so far away after they were brutally torn down from the monument. What we say to the British is "Let's do it together". What we say is "We want to put back to its place something that has a context. That is part of the history and the legend of Greece" In conclusion, the answer is "We want to reunite a unity"

Other argument against Greece's demand is that the return of the Marbles will initiate similar demands from countries all over the world asking for their treasures to be returned and that could mean that museums, such as the British one, will be emptied. How do you answer to that?

First of all, it' s not an honest argument. There have been returns. Second, Museums are so full that their store houses keep treasures hidden for years, because they have no room to show them. No, no. It's not an honest argument. Finally, I repeat: We do not ask for a painting, or a statue. We ask for parts of a whole. It makes no sense that the head of Athena is here and the body there. Those having these arguments must understand that ours is a unique demand. There is not another like it.

This is a just cause. But, I wonder, is it enough to fight for a just cause. Does a fight for a just cause always win?

Let me, now, ask: What will happen if we take chapters of the Magna Carta and we spread them in Timbactoo, in China, in Mexico all over the oceans. Then we can talk of a just cause.

How does the public react to the issue of the return of the Marbles? Not just the public abroad, mainly in England, but greek people as well. How do they support this demand?

There isn't anything in an organisational sense but many countries of the world have already taken position, have expressed themselves. Many countries of the world have made comments on this. Many separate people have said that this is wrong and have acclaimed it as an international issue. For the Greek people, this demand is the essence of greekness, because it is connected to the idea of democracy.

Mr Dassin, since culture is the issue and since Greece has been your "subject" in many of your movies, do you believe that culture is what makes Greece what it is?

Culture makes the world what it is!

And what, do you think, is the uniqueness of Greece's cultural face?

Principally it's Greek approach to society. It's democracy. Modern societies owe their democratic statues to Greece. It's the language. Almost every language we speak is greek in origin. And coming back to our issue we should put some thought to what Greece contributed to the world's culture. It's so enormous. So profound. So vital!

Are you a dreamer? Because you speak like one.

No I speak in the most practical way about protecting what we have and treasure what has been given to us in its proper context.

Well, let's dream.

I don't consider it a dream...

It's a dream come true

We hope it is.

So, suppose the Marbles are back. What does this return mean to the world?

It means what it means to every individual. It means something like going to a concert and hearing only parts of the 9th Symphony by Beethoven and then going to another concert and hearing the whole work of art. It means what language means, ethics.

What are the future steps taken by the Melina Merkouri foundation regarding the Marbles?

Of course, we never stop. We collaborate al lot with the English who are in favour, scholars, congressmen, members of the parliament. But our "target" now is to make it a great universal demand. We've already done a lot. We have the support of many who want to make it right.

Do you believe that during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games we'll have the Marbles back, even as a ... loan?

I don't see it. Perhaps if we had the Museum. But there have been problems and we have lost six years..

You are acclaimed as a Greek for many good reasons. But you are not. You were born in the USA. You have lived quite a long time in France and have been in many places of Europe. Perhaps you are Ulissses?

No, of course not. I consider myself a citizen who for many years now has made a life in Greece and have, for many years, been around. But now my home is Greece.

What do you hope for Greece? What do dream for Greece? What is Greece to you?

Basically Greece is home. What I dream... is the smiles to come back. When I first came here my first impression was that Greeks asked of life to be entertaining, amusing even if hard. They wanted to have fun. They wanted their friends to have fun. And that was a profoundly social attitude. And I loved it very much. I strongly hope this smile to life comes back.

If you wanted to make a film, a short film, on Greece...
I'm looking for an idea of how to make a film on the theme of the Parthenon Marbles but I can't find a way to do it.

So, let's make a short film right now. What images of Greece would you put in it saying "This is Greece" or telling tourists "Come to Greece because Greece is ..." What?

I believe that the visitors - the tourists - who come to Greece already bring the gifts of Greece with them. They're ready to love. Ready to find what they have read in books, or learnt in schools. They try to find contacts to its glorious history. They bring the gifts of love and recognition