Antigoni (1961)

Director:

Yorgos Javellas

Writers:

Yorgos Javellas (screenplay)
Sophocles (play)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In Thebes in ancient Greece, King Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother Jocasta, having two sons...

Plot Keywords:

Thebes | King | Burial | Ancient Greece | Death

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Irene Papas	...	Antigone
Manos Katrakis	...	Creon
Maro Kodou	...	Ismene
Nikos Kazis	...	Haemon
Ilia Livykou	...	Eurydice
Giannis Argyris	...	A Sentry
Byron Pallis	...	A Messenger
Tzavalas Karousos	...	Tieresias
Thodoros Moridis	...	First Elder of Thebes
Giorgos Vlahopoulos	...	Elder of Thebes
Yorgos Karetas	...	Elder of Thebes
Thanasis Kefalopoulos	...	Elder of Thebes
H. Bourgatzas	...	Elder of Thebes
I. Garifalidis	...	Elder of Thebes
A. Kakoulidis	...	Elder of Thebes

Also Known As:

Antigone (International: English title)
Rites for the Dead

Runtime:

93 min | Greece:98 min

Country:

Greece

Language:

Greek

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Norma Film Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of Antigone (1984) (TV)

A Greek Tragedy of Sophocles

In Thebes in ancient Greece, King Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother Jocasta, having two sons – Eteocles and Polyneices – and two daughters – Ismene and Antigone. King Oedipus dies a beggar in the exile after gouging out his own eye, and Eteocle agrees to reign in Thebes in alternating years with Polynices. However, he refuses to resign after the first year and Polynieces raises an army and attacks Thebes, and they kill each other.

The ruler of Thebes Creon (Manos Katrakis) decrees that Eleocles should have an honorable burial while the body of the traitor Polyneices should be left on the battlefield to be eaten by the jackals and vultures. However, Antigone (Irene Papas), who was betrothed to Creon's surviving son Haemon (Nikos Kazis), defies Creon's orders and buries her brother. When Creon is reported of the attitude of Antigone, he sentences her to be placed in a tomb alive. Antigone hangs herself in the tomb and Haemon tries to kill his father first and then he kills himself with his sword. When Creon's wife Eurydice (Ilia Livykou) is informed of the death of her son, she also commits suicide, leaving Creon alone.

The theatrical "Antigoni" is a nice feature about the famous Greek tragedy of Sophocles focused in Antigone, the incestuous daughter of Oedipus and therefore also his half-sister and Jocasta's granddaughter. The movie begins with an important big picture of Thebes and the major characters of that period, and is extremely well acted. This is the first time that I watch this movie and I saw it in an American VHS. I only regret the quality of the subtitles that are visibly too much summarized since there are long speeches of characters that are translated in two or three words in English. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): Not Available