Antigoni (1961)

Antigone defies her uncle's decree that her traitorous brother should go unburied and therefore find no rest in the afterlife; however, her actions have tragic consequences.

Director:

Yorgos Tzavellas (as George Tzavellas)

Writers:

Sophocles (play), Yorgos Tzavellas (screenplay) (as George Tzavellas)

Stars:

Irene Papas, Manos Katrakis, Maro Kodou

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

In the Ancient Greek city of Thebes, King Oedipus killed his father and married his mother Jocasta, having two sons - Eteocles and Polynieces - and two daughters - Ismene and Antigone. King Oedipus died a beggar in the exile after gouging out his own eyes, and Eteocles agreed to reign in Thebes in alternating years with Polynieces. However, Eteocles refuses to resign after the first year and Polynieces is exiled. Polynieces raises an army and attacks Thebes, and the two brothers kill each other. Crean, the new ruler of Thebes Creon decrees that Eteocles should have an honorable burial while the body of the traitor Polynieces should be left on the battlefield to be eaten by jackals and vultures. However, Antigone, who was betrothed to Creon's surviving son Haemon, defies Creon's orders and buries her brother. When Creon is reported of the attitude of Antigone, he sentences her to be sealed in a tomb alive. Antigone hangs herself in the tomb and Haemon tries to kill his father first and...

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Plot Keywords:

greek mythology | reference to sophocles' antigone | reference to antigone | female protagonist | thebes | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Greece

Language:

Greek

Release Date:

22 January 1962 (Greece)

Also Known As:

Rites for the Dead

Filming Locations:

Alfa Studios, Athens, Greece

Company Credits

Production Co:

Norma Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Great Performances: Antigone (1974)

User Reviews

Justice

Antigone represents the epitome of philosophical thought in antiquity. The ruler in Creon is set opposite to the loyal sister in Antigone. The ethical dilemma presented in the film is much like Plato's works: Euthyphro and Republic. Creon, as the ruler Thebes, thinks it just to not bury the fallen enemies near the city as it would disgrace the city. Antigone on the other hand feels it just to her fallen brother, a confederate to the previous regime, that he be given a proper burial in regard to his and Antigone's beliefs in the Gods.

The conflict gets its genesis from a varying view of what is just or the right thing to do. Take Plato's dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro in Euthyphro. Euthyphro explains to Socrates that something pious (just, good) is something unanimously loved by the Gods. Socrates raises the question as to whether the gods love the pious because it is the pious or whether something pious is only pious because it is loved by the gods. The circular dilemma present by Euthyphro brings a question to Antigone. Is she right for wanting her brother buried and disrupting edicts by Creon's rule? Is her pious belief in the Gods something she ought to uphold? Does the good or justice in her brother's burial supersede Creon's rule? Additionally, in Plato's Republic Thraseymachus explains to Socrates that the just is the advantage of the stronger, and that it is just to obey one's rulers. Socrates argues against this conclusion but with weak premises. For Euthyphro, Antigone would be justified in wanting her brother buried in his religious fashion which would dictate his corpse not rotting in the woods. Thraseymachus on the other hand would say that the justice resides in the ruler, Creon, for better or worse. Which is right?