Sophocles' immortal tragedy Antigone receives a definitive cinematic interpretation in this 1961 film. Irene Papas (Z, the Trojan Women, the Guns of Navarone) heads a cast of over 500 actors of the Greek stage and screen, joined by soldiers and horsemen of the Greek Royal Guard. Performing in the original Greek, Papas and, in particular, Manos Katrakis as the tyrannical Theban King Creon, embody Sophocles' timeless themes with earthy conviction and irresistible passion. In the aftermath of a bloody civil war that fatally pitted both her brothers against each other, Antigone (Papas), daughter of Oedipus, picks through the carnage outside the gates of Thebes in search of her fallen siblings' bodies. Vowing to bury both men, Antigone defies a direct edict from Thebes ' King Creon that Antigone's rebel brother remain unsanctioned for having led the insurrection. Antigone's defiance of Creon and devotion to her shattered family divides the city of Thebes, threatens her sister's betrothal to Creon's son and invokes the wrath of a king willing to defy the gods themselves to satisfy his selfish vengeance. But by condemning Antigone, Creon unwittingly doomed himself to a sentence far crueler than any punishment he could inflict on his enemies. While remaining faithful to the original text, director Georges Tzavellas interprets Antigone as an intimate black and white epic that recalls Orsen Welles' MacBeth and Laurence Oliver's filmed Hamlet. As relevant now as it was in the fourth century BC, Antigone's riche tapestry, love and fate comes vividly to life in this superior film adaption.
F**R
Sophocles' Creon
I would rate this DVD three-and-one-half stars. As ever, Irene Papas is excellent as the protagonist, but unfortunately she is on the screen for so short a time that the film does not do her justice. Instead the tragedy focuses on the dead Jocasta's brother, Creon, who has become King of Thebes after the exile and death of Oedipus. One of the most interesting sections of the film is seeing the stychomythia--the fast exchange of single lines that heighten the emotional impact--between Creon and his son Haemon. The chorus has been reduced to a voice-over, with curly grey-bearded elders standing about only suggesting a chorus.I found the production rather old-fashioned and heavy-handed in a Hollywoodish sort of way (if one can say that about a Greek production) in that there is an ongoing soundtrack that features blaring horns and reedy instruments that only detract from the drama. I'm afraid that "Antigone" simply does not compare to Cocoyannis' "Electra" in which Irene Papas is given the entire film to display her remarkable abilities as an actress of the first magnitude.
C**S
Beware Not Of Greeks Bearing 1961 Masterpiece
Irene Papas / AntigoneManos Katrazis / CreonMaro Kontou / IsmeneNikos Kazis / Haemon
S**E
Still relevant
Sticks to the play. Good acting. Great for classrooms who are reading Antigone. Wish they would remake this in English so they didn't have to read subtitles, but some of my students really felt the movie helped them to understand the play much better. It's a classic.
D**S
Considering the age of the movie and the fact that they used true Greek soldiers as extra's it was great.
It sticks very close to the book story. Remember, because it is very old, and has subtitles sometimes it loses your interest. Considering the age of the movie and the fact that they used true Greek soldiers as extra's it was great.
C**S
Not as enjoyable as I hoped
The acting was good and I usually prefer subtitles, but something about the soundtrack made it hard for me to listen to. I don't think it was the language itself, but the sound put me off of enjoying it, and it's one of my favorites.
A**R
Gift
Must have worked well for the gift receiver as it wasn't returned.
C**S
Antigone
Not for me. I wanted to use this in my English 12 class. English subtitles will not work for these students. I sent an email to Moviemars about returning the item. I have not received a reply to date.
F**N
Good quality movie considering the orginal release date
Good quality movie considering the orginal release date. However, my students really wish that there is a translated versions.
A**L
I loved it
I loved this stark, minimalist, black and white film from 1961. Irene Papas brings Antigone to life in a way I don't think anyone else could have. The sets aren't huge or overdone by any stretch of the imagination, but are so well done it was easy to believe I was looking at what it was like to be in Thebes in the 4th century BC. If you're into Greek myth, you'll love this film.
B**R
Very good for classical education
I'm teaching adults in Classical subjects. I find the film very close to the original greek tekst and therefore I can recommend it to my pupils.I really also want to by Ifigenia in Aulis - but it isn't possible for me on Amazone.UK. I can find it on Amazon.us, but I'm not aloud to buy it. I would appreciate the possibility vere much.
M**E
Grandiose!
Film à contempler! En Version Originale Impérativement!Avec l'immense Irène Papas... n'hésitez pas une seconde, profitez de son élocution parfaite pour pénétrer l'univers des tragédies antiques.
M**Y
Antigone
Useful for comparative interpretations and presentations of Greek Drama. As a Classical Studies student I found it interesting and affordable.
G**L
Ärgerlich
Diese Verfilmung ist nicht abspielbar! Dass das berühmte Stück auf Griechisch gezeigt wird, hätte mich nicht gestört, aber dass solche technische Panne überhaupt möglich ist, hat mich sehr verärgert.
Trustpilot
2 weeks ago
3 days ago