Hi Pinback, by default greater than or less than(<>) just don't work on string. You have to convert your @begin_date as a date or number. I have some good result if I convert them as number here my filter :
[number(translate(translate(translate(.,'-',''),' ',''),':','')) > number('19780601000000')]. As you see I concatenate your 2 variables to make a big number, so it's important to have exactly the same format.