The Minor of Dawn
A Greek series that presents aspects of the lives of folk musicians who formed a rebetiko band during the 1930s-1960s. The title To Minore tis Avgis comes from the song of the same name, with lyrics by Minos Matsas and music by Spyros Peristeris. The series, which premiered on ERT on January 14, 1983, and was completed in two cycles of 14 and 13 episodes respectively, features popular songs by Vamvakaris, Tsitsanis, Papaioannou, Hatzichristou, and others. Antonis Zagouras is a young rebetis who arrives in Athens from Syros in search of fortune. He becomes a member of a rebetiko band and embarks on an exciting journey full of love, success, but also many disappointments, until he gains social and artistic recognition.
Season 1 - The Minor of Dawn
1983-01-14
Antonis Zagouras (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) secretly leaves Syros, arrives in Piraeus, and searches for his cousin Mitsos Rousalis (Yannis Zavradinos), who is a member of a rebetiko band. He quickly becomes a member of the group, which consists of Thanasis Bekos (Timos Perlegas), Vangelis Aivaliotis (Dimitris Kataleifos), and Giorgos Dozis (Ilias Logothetis). However, he unwittingly witnesses the kidnapping of Stella (Rika Vagianni), with whom Mitsos is madly in love.
1983-01-21
Two months have passed, Vangelis (Dimitris Kataleifos) and Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) have opened a small ouzo bar, while Stella (Rika Vagianni) has begun to realize that life with Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos) is not what she had dreamed it would be. Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) continues his efforts and contacts in order to get the band to play at a large folk festival. However, a fight at the ouzo bar leads to Mitsos being arrested and sent to prison.
1983-01-28
Giorgis (Ilias Logothetis) suggests to Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) that he ask Belousis (Iraklis Papadakis) for help in getting Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos) out of prison. Stella (Rika Vagianni) returns to her parents' home. Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) and Vangelis (Dimitris Kataleifos) enjoy their carefree life. Dina (Dina Konsta) visits Mitsos in prison and reveals that he is going to be a father. A few days later, however, Stella goes to see him and tells him that she has had an abortion. Domna Samiou appears and sings in this episode.
1983-02-04
Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos) is released from prison, but Stella (Rika Vagianni) makes it clear that she does not want to continue with him. At the same time, the band begins performing at a club in old Kokkinia. Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) arranges for them to be seen by the head of a record company. Antonis goes to Chara (Chara Angelousi) and suggests that she form her own band and perform at her club. She refuses, and so they go their separate ways. The band is preparing for its first album when Antonis announces that he is leaving the band.
1983-02-11
Aristos (Filippos Sofianos) takes Antonis' (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) place in the band. The album is released and does very well, while Aristos meets Sylvia (Themis Bazaka), a woman of the aristocracy, and begins a relationship with her. Mitsos is now making a lot of money from the albums, unlike Giorgis (Ilias Logothetis), who is fired from the police force and gets a job at Thanasis's (Timos Perlegas) shop, who has problems with the police.
1983-02-18
Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) is tried for possession and trafficking of contraband and acquitted due to reasonable doubt. Aristos (Filippos Sofianos) proposes marriage to Sylvia (Themis Bazaka). She refuses, and soon reveals the life she leads, which Aristos was unaware of. So he gives her an ultimatum: either they get married or they break up. A few days later, she goes to the shop, but again their conversation leads nowhere. When Aristos leaves, Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos) goes to her table to keep her company...
1983-02-25
Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos) has fallen into drugs and has started causing problems in the group. Aristos (Filippos Sofianos), on the other hand, goes to Sylvia's (Themis Bazaka) house and is surprised to discover that she is in a relationship with Mitsos. He returns home and, in a rage, threatens to kill them both. Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) and Vangelis (Dimitris Kataleifos) convince him to take a break for a while to get over it. This story is the reason for the orchestra's breakup.
1983-03-04
Sylvia (Themis Bazaka) learns that Aristos (Filippos Sofianos) has emigrated and decides to move to Paris without telling Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos). Meanwhile, he tries to find a way to avoid being drafted on the eve of war. Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos), on the other hand, returns and reunites with Chara (Chara Angelousi), who this time suggests they become business partners. So he sets up a rebetiko band in her shop, with Antonis on lead bouzouki, while she accompanies him on vocals.
1983-03-11
Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos) meets with the big boss of the record company, who complains to him about drugs. At the same time, Belousis (Irakis Papadakis) informs him that he is going on tour to Istanbul, and that on his return he will be transporting a large consignment of drugs. Meanwhile, Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) and Chara (Chara Angelousi) decide to get married. She invites all their friends to her house to spend Christmas Eve together. However, the men get into a fight and Antonis is exiled to Aspronisi.
1983-03-18
Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) meets Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos) in Aspronisi. The two put the past behind them and support each other. Antonis realizes that his old friend is in a bad way because of drugs and decides to help him kick the habit. Meanwhile, the Greco-Italian War of 1940 breaks out and Vangelis (Dimitris Kataleifos), shortly before enlisting in the navy, confesses his love to Chrysoula (Eleni Kourkoula).
1983-03-25
Giorgis (Ilias Logothetis) tries to return to Piraeus from the Albanian front. On the way, he meets Takis, who is killed by a German bombing raid. So he takes his belongings with him, intending to return them to his beloved. Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) and Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos) have already returned to Piraeus, while Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) is renovating his shop. Vangelis (Dimitris Kataleifos) now works in a shop in Athens and helps his beloved Chrysoula (Eleni Kourkoula) financially, while Giorgis plays in small clubs to make a living.
1983-04-01
Chara (Chara Angelousi) gets engaged to Vangelis (Dimitris Kataleifos) and Chrysoula (Eleni Kourkoula). Giorgis (Ilias Logothetis) meets Dimitra (Dimitra Zeza) when he takes her Takis's belongings, and the two begin to grow closer. Meanwhile, Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) breaks up with Belika (Belika Koubareli), with whom he had a brief relationship, prompting him to get back together with Chara, knowing that he never stopped loving her. At the same time, Thanasis learns that Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos) has relapsed into drug use.
1983-04-08
Vangelis (Dimitris Kataleifos) and Chrysoula (Eleni Kourkoula) get married. Late at night, Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) knocks on their door and begs them to hide an Englishman in their house. Mitsos (Yannis Zavradinos) dies. Giorgis (Ilias Logothetis) announces to Dimitra (Dimitra Zeza) that they are getting married the next day. Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) goes to Chara (Chara Angelousi), but she refuses to take him back.
1983-04-15
All the heroes of the story have gathered at Chara's old shop (Chara Angelousi) to celebrate the end of the first cycle of the series. Together, they remember the most important moments of the rebetiko group and the songs associated with them.
Season 2 - The Minor of Dawn
1984-04-17
The second cycle of our series takes us to German-occupied Athens. Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) now lives in Athens, as do Giorgis (Ilias Logothetis) and Dimitra (Dimitra Zeza). Vangelis (Dimitris Kataleifos), who is in prison, meets Anastasis (Nikos Chyttas), a member of the Resistance. Chara (Chara Angelousi) continues to hang out with Chrysoula (Eleni Kourkoula), who is afraid that Vangelis will be sent to Germany. Thanasis meets his neighbor Giorgos's neighbor, Nikos Tiniakos (Giorgos Dialegmenos), who reminds him of something...
An old friend of Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos), Minas (Minas Konstantopoulos), asks him to help an actress, Athina (Athina Tsilyra). Belousis (Iraklis Papadakis) goes to Chara's (Chara Angelousi) shop with the Italian commander (Christos Efthymiu). Chryssoula (Eleni Kourkoula) sees him and decides to ask him to help her husband. Belousis, however, asks for something in return... Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) goes to see his brother, Archimandrite Nektarios (Lambros Tsagas). This reveals a secret from the past that forces him to go into hiding.
Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) calls Giorgos (Ilias Logothetis) to the shop and tells him that he is planning Vangelis' (Dimitris Kataleifos) escape. Thomas (Christos Valavanidis), who works at the prison, is also in on the plan. At the same time, he begins rehearsals with Athena (Athina Tsilyra). The two grow very close. Chryssoula (Eleni Kourkoula) decides to go to Belousis' (Iraklis Papadakis) house. When she leaves, she goes crying to Chara (Chara Angelousi), who advises her not to tell anyone what she did.
Giorgis (Ilias Logothetis) and Dimitra (Dimitra Zeza) distribute the oil they found hidden in a warehouse to the residents of the neighborhood. Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) is now in a relationship with Athina (Athina Tsilyra). Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) baptizes Giorgis and Dimitra's son. At the party organized by the group, Haroula (Haris Alexiou), with whom he is going to collaborate, sings. However, Nikos Tiniakos (Giorgos Dialegmenos) is also invited, and he reminds Thanasis that they met in Istanbul. Thanasis begins to worry that his secret will be revealed.
Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) gives money to Belousis (Hercules Papadakis) for Vangelis' (Dimitris Kataleifos) escape. In the end, the Italians capitulate and all the prisoners are released. However, Vangelis, influenced by Anastasis' views, decides to fight alongside him for a better future. Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) meets with Tinianos (Giorgos Dialegmenos). As it turns out, he is the man who had smuggled him out of Istanbul after the murder of his wife's lover...
Vangelis (Dimitris Kataleifos), who is already involved in the National Resistance, secretly meets with Chrysoula (Eleni Kourkoula). Athina begins to think about "tomorrow," something that Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) does not like at all. He makes it clear to her that he does not like to be accountable to anyone, while she reveals to him that her husband is alive and in Egypt. Vangelis is eventually killed, and shortly afterwards Thomas (Christos Valavanidis) reveals to Antonis that Chrysoula had gone with Belousis (Iraklis Papadakis).
Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) goes to Chara's (Chara Angelousi) shop and asks her if she knew about Chrysoula (Eleni Kourkoula) and Belousis (Iraklis Papadakis). She defends her friend. He then meets with Spinos (Christos Petsios) and asks him to find him a weapon so he can feel safe. At the same time, he searches for Athina (Athina Tsilyra), who has disappeared. Meanwhile, the Germans raid houses, round up the men, and it is revealed that Nikos Tiniakos (Giorgos Dialegmenos) is on their side.
We are now in the final days of the German occupation. Giorgis (Ilias Logothetis) appears in shops in the countryside. The day of liberation arrives and he returns home happily with Thanasis (Timo Perlega) only to learn that his wife Dimitra (Dimitra Zeza) has been killed. Belousis (Iraklis Papadakis) is also dead. Years pass and we arrive in 1951. Anastasis (Nikos Chyttas) goes to find Chrysoula (Eleni Kourkoula) and learns that she now lives in Canada with her brother. At the same time, Thanasis returns and meets Tinianos (Giorgos Dialegmenos) again, who has changed his name, profession, and habits.
Thanasis' daughter (Timos Perlegas), Dora (Peggy Stathakopoulou), arrives in Athens from Istanbul. She goes to her uncle Nektarios (Lambros Tsagas) and tells him that she knows the whole truth about her father and wants to meet him. Aliki (Aleka Paizi), who is a friend of Thomas (Christos Valavanidis) and Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos), really wants to help a young boy, Stratis (Stratis Tsopanellis), who has a very good voice. At the same time, Antonis and Chara (Chara Angelousi) decide to sing together in the film that Minas (Minas Konstantopoulos) is preparing. Thanasis meets his daughter for the first time.
Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) opens his own shop, where all his friends arrive, including Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) with his daughter Dora (Peggy Stathakopoulou). After a while, Thanasis and Antonis go up on stage together, while Dora offers to help her father's friend by playing the accordion for a few days. Thanasis decides to marry Soula (Katerina Vakalopoulou) and then they go to work on an island. Meanwhile, Dora is now with Antonis, and Stratis (Stratis Tsopanellis) appears alongside Chara (Chara Angelousi).
Dora (Peggy Stathakopoulou) keeps postponing her trip to Vienna so she can be with Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos). At the same time, filming begins and Antonis and Chara (Chara Angelousi) take to the stage together once again. Meanwhile, Thomas (Christos Valavanidis) reveals to Dora that Aliki (Aleka Paizi) is seriously ill and will die soon. Chara and Stratis (Stratis Tsopanellis) are doing very well at the club, and the two are growing closer, while Soula (Katerina Vakalopoulou) develops a close relationship with her boss. Tinianos (Giorgos Dialegmenos) is killed in a motorcycle accident.
Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) decides to go into construction. Soula (Katerina Vakalopoulou) decides to leave Thanasis (Timos Perlegas) and live the high life with her boss. Aliki commits suicide and leaves her house and possessions to her good friend Thomas (Christos Valavanidis). Dora (Peggy Stathakopoulou) decides to go to Vienna. She leaves a letter for Thomas about Antonis and leaves without saying anything to him. Stratis (Stratis Tsopanellis) invites a new singer to the club to hear her sing. Chara (Chara Angelousi) gets angry and sends him away. Thanasis starts performing with Antonis.
The last episode of the series takes place during the years of the dictatorship, with the heroes having retired from the limelight. Director Minas (Minas Konstantopoulos), now a television executive, is preparing a program on the history of the Piraeus Quartet. He asks his colleagues to find his old friends. Antonis (Antonis Kafetzopoulos), who is now married to Chara (Chara Angelousi) and has two children, refuses to appear on television. Thanasis (Timos Perlegas), who lives with his daughter Dora (Peggy Stathakopoulou), accepts the invitation. Thomas (Christos Valavanidis), who is now Antonis's business partner and best man, tells him to watch the show...
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