Anna (Maria Kitsou) is stuck in a rut of routine. She is in her 30's and has been working for 15 years in a grocery store that her father and his friend Yannis (Fotis Thomaidis) who still manages the store founded. She is not good at her job continues to wear a long out of date uniform and known as the slowest cashier in the store. Her favourite treat is cosmic candy a souped up version of pop rocks when taken leads Anna into a dream like state. She lives alone in her parents' old apartment preserving her childhood bedroom.Inquisitive neighbour child Persia (Magia Pipera) rings her bell. Anna does not want her around as she is disruptive. But when the 10-year-old's Dad disappears Anna agrees to take her in until her Dad reappears.
Director Rinio Dragasaki's story centers around the lasting impact of childhood events. Persa is going though one presently as her dad has disappeared with tough looking guys banging on his door with bad intentions. Anna seems to be going through the same experience as an adult. Her home is full of unopened boxes she maintains her hermetically sealed childhood room and her favourite escape is to munch on a candy meant for kids.
The film is at its strongest when it focuses on the relationship between Anna and Persa. The latter has a key role in the upcoming school play about Greek Independence reciting her lines all around Anna's place to the annoyance of the former. After being left alone and causing havoc and acting as a distraction to a potential suitor the pair set off on a fools errand to find Persa's Grandmother.
Cosmic Candy is a light hearted tale with vibrant bordering on comical effect once the effect of the Candy kick in. The two lead actors are the soul of the film. Anna grows more as a person under Persa's influence when the opposite would be expected. Although some of the elements are of the final act are , telegraphed, the film still leaves viewers with a warm feeling and with all that is going on these days a bit of a fantasy break can be a welcomed thing.
*** Out of 4
Cosmic Canda | Rinio Dragaski | France/Greece | 2019 | 94 Minutes.
Tags: Grocery Store, Cashier, Road Trip, Your Fired, Athens, Child Abandonment, OCD, School Play, Greek Independence.
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