“We must both have been hungry because we constantly led the conversation round to food. — “What is your favorite dish, grandad?” — “All of them, my son. It’s a great sin to say this is good and that is bad.” — “Why? Can’t we make a choice?” — “No, of course we can’t.” — “Why not?” — “Because there are people who are hungry.” I was silent, ashamed. My heart had never been able to reach that height of nobility and compassion.”

That’s from one of my favorite films, Zorba the Greek.

Here’s Anthony Quinn as Zorba and Alan Bates as his English visitor, on the island of Crete, comforting the ageing courtesan, Mme. Hortense (Leila Kedrova in a great performance). As she recalls to them her triumphs as a dancer in her youth, she’s ridiculous, pathetic, cringe-making and noble all in turn.

And then there’s Irene Pappas, whom someone once said was too ferociously beautiful for Hollywood stardom, as the widow who is stoned by the village, as punishment for her dalliance with the Englishman, his first adventure away from his books, no doubt…

He, of course, can go back to them afterward. She loses her life…..