120 Decibels (1987)
A Greek drama about friendship, memory, and the quiet vigil kept at a comatose friend's bedside.
120 Decibels - Movie Information
- Original Title: 120 Ντεσιμπέλ
- Release Year: 1987
- Directed by: Vasilis Vafeas
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 30m
- Original Language: Greek
- Spoken Languages: Greek
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 1, 1987 (Greece)
- Alternative Titles: 120 Decibels (US)
- Production Companies: Greek Film Centre, Sigma Film, ERT
- Production Countries: Greece
120 Decibels - Plot
After having an accident Nassos is brought into a hospital where he lies in coma without regaining his consciousness. All his friends visit him and each of them remembers the most important moments of their friendships.
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120 Decibels - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Vasilis Vafeas
Main Cast
- Roubini Vasilakopoulou
- Karyofyllia Karabeti
- Alkis Panagiotidis
- Athina Tsilyra
- Tasos Yfantis
- Charis Sozos
- Nelly Angelidou
- Dora Volanaki
- Kostas Voutsas
- Athinodoros Prousalis
Writers
- Vasilis Vafeas
120 Decibels - FAQs
What is 120 Decibels about?
120 Decibels follows a group of friends after their companion Nassos is left in a coma following an accident. As they gather at his hospital bedside, each friend reflects on the moments that defined their bond with him, weaving together a tender portrait of friendship, memory, and loss.
Why is the film titled 120 Decibels?
120 decibels is roughly the threshold of pain for human hearing — the level of a rock concert or a jet engine. The title evokes the intensity and emotional volume of youth, suggesting that the friendships and experiences at the heart of the film were lived loudly, passionately, and at full force.
How does the film use memory and flashbacks?
The film's structure is built around individual recollections. Each friend who visits Nassos in the hospital becomes the lens through which a key shared memory is revisited. This mosaic approach gives the story an intimate, fragmented quality, reflecting how friendship is never one single narrative but a collection of personal impressions.
Who directed 120 Decibels?
120 Decibels was directed by Vasilis Vafeas, who also wrote the screenplay. Vafeas is a figure of Greek cinema known for his character-driven storytelling, and this film stands as one of his more intimate and emotionally layered works from the late 1980s.
Who are the main actors in 120 Decibels?
The cast features a strong ensemble of Greek actors, including Roubini Vasilakopoulou, Karyofyllia Karabeti, Alkis Panagiotidis, Athina Tsilyra, Tasos Yfantis, Charis Sozos, Nelly Angelidou, Dora Volanaki, Kostas Voutsas, and Athinodoros Prousalis.
When was 120 Decibels released?
120 Decibels was released in Greece on October 1, 1987. It is a product of the Greek Film Centre and was produced in collaboration with Sigma Film and the national broadcaster ERT, reflecting the state-supported cinema landscape of Greece in the 1980s.
What films are similar to 120 Decibels?
If 120 Decibels resonates with you, you might also enjoy All Day and a Night, XX/XY, Almost Friends, Gigi & Nate, Hungry Hearts, or God's Pocket — films that similarly explore friendship, loyalty, and the emotional weight of human connection in intimate, character-driven ways.
Is 120 Decibels based on a true story?
120 Decibels does not appear to be based on a specific true story. Written and directed by Vasilis Vafeas, the film reads as an original dramatic work rooted in universal themes of youth, friendship, and the fragility of life rather than drawn from documented real-world events.
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