The Ogre of Athens (1956)

With New Year's Eve just around the corner in mid-1950s Athens, the meek and reclusive bank clerk, Thomas, is shocked to discover that he has a striking resemblance with the notorious deviant who terrorises the city. Burdened with yet another knotty problem that threatens not only his already frail freedom but also his very life, Thomas finds refuge in the seedy underbelly of Piraeus, at a disreputable cabaret; the smoke-filled haven of vicious cut-throats, perfidious divas, and the home of pure and innocent, Roula. There, a violent gang of unscrupulous thieves welcomes Thanos as their leader and, above all, their saviour, unbeknownst to them that fate has other plans in store for everyone involved in their lucrative scheme. But, as Thomas' distorted image earns him ample respect, more and more, the boundaries between reality and illusion become unclear. Now, for the sake of the unsoiled femme fatale, can this grotesque new persona, the "Ogre of Athens", banish a lifetime of fear?