“Grease”, which premiered 45 years ago, is a timeless musical that is suitable for any time and any weather, but perhaps it is best shown in a big-screen outdoor cinema as Tartuff's final film. It is a legendary film version of the famous 1971 musical which was one of the first to talk about contemporary youth and their lives. Seven years later, the film became equally desirable (the film was seen repeatedly) for teenage girls of the free world as “Star Wars”, which had conquered the cinema screens a year earlier, was for boys.

John Travolta, who had become a huge star since “Saturday Night Fever”, shines as Danny, the gelled-haired and hip-swinging leader of a gang of boys. He falls in love one summer with a picture-perfect country girl named Sandy (Olivia Newton-John). But when she unexpectedly shows up at the same school and begins to threaten Danny's cool vibe, the young man decides to hide his feelings for her.

The classic boy-meets-girl love story, which became the most popular film in its release year, completely hit the nail on its head. Teenagers saw themselves in the film – hoping, dreaming, and loving in the same way as their idols on the silver screen. Along with gripping choreographic dance numbers and unforgettable songs, “Grease” has become a masterpiece that unites generations and is happily imitated by millions of teenagers across the world today and, hopefully, for hundreds of years to come.

Helmut Jänes