“Above all Authority!”: Morality, Class, and Transgression in Greek Film Comedies

Greek film comedies of the period 1950–1970 have often been characterized as escapist and non-political. However, several comedies of the period present a depiction of class and gender issues that couch serious social themes as well as criticism of the institutions of authority in Greek society within their comedic structure. Some scholars assert that these films serve to reify the dominance of authoritative social structures, but that generalization is open to debate. Based on the work of several scholars, this article uses a Bakhtinian framework to consider the transgressive possibilities of several comedies of the period, and examines the ways they critique the authority of class structures in Greek society. Rather than simply maintaining the status quo, they suggest a larger moral/ethical standard that transcends the institutions of authority and offers hope for social justice.