Man of Grease is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Ezra Soiferman and released in 2000.Marla Cranston, "Grease gastronomes dish diner details: Documentaries look at greasy- spoon culture". Halifax Daily News, September 21, 2000. The film is a portrait of Tony Koulakis, a Greek immigrant who was the longtime owner of the Cosmos diner in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough of Montreal, Quebec, as he begins his preparations to retire and hand over ownership of the restaurant to his son Nikos and daughter Niki.Bill Brownstein, "That Cosmo man: Film-maker pays tribute to Tony Koulakis and his greasy spoon as Montreal institutions". Montreal Gazette, August 26, 2000.
The film's title was selected as a pun, referencing both Koulakis's Greek heritage and the grease associated with cooking food in a diner.
Distribution The film premiered at the Montreal World Film Festival on August 28, 2000,John Griffin, "The Reel Deal: World Film Festival honcho Serge Losique embodies event's ideals"]. Montreal Gazette, August 19, 2000. and was screened at other film festivals before having a brief commercial run in 2001.Susan Schwartz, "Film-makers worship together". Montreal Gazette, November 11, 2001.
It was later released on DVD in 2011.Bill Brownstein, "Man of Grease and his spatula finally on DVD". Montreal Gazette, December 2, 2011.
A sequel film, with the working title The Holy Grill, was in the works at the time of Koulakis's official retirement in 2002,Bill Brownstein, "Man of Grease hands down spatula". Montreal Gazette, November 22, 2002. although there is no known record of its completion or release.
Awards The film was a Jutra Award nominee for Best Documentary Film at the 3rd Jutra Awards in 2001.Odile Tremblay, "Fournée de finalistes". Le Devoir, January 24, 2001.
Followup Several years after Tony Koulakis's retirement, he was stabbed to death in 2013,Giuseppe Valiante, "Iconic Montreal eatery owner slain". Kingston Whig-Standard, June 24, 2013. with his son Yannis convicted of murder and sentenced to nine years in prison in 2016."Son sentenced for murdering father". Montreal Gazette, February 20, 2016.
Nikos and Niki Koulakis retained ownership of the restaurant until putting it up for sale in 2020."Legendary Cosmos restaurant in N.D.G. is put up for sale". Montreal Gazette, May 5, 2020.
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