Oedipus Rex (film)

Oedipus Rex
Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini
Produced by Alfredo Bini
Written by Sophocles (tragedy)
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Starring Silvana Mangano
Franco Citti
Alida Valli
Carmelo Bene
Julian Beck
Luciano Bartoli
Francesco Leonetti
Ahmed Belhachmi
Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia
Giandomenico Davoli
Ninetto Davoli
Cinematography Giuseppi Ruzzolini
Edited by Nino Baragli
Distributed by Euro International Films
Release dates
 3 September 1967 (premiere at VFF)
Running time
 104 minutes
Country Italy
Language Italian

Oedipus Rex (Edipo re) is a 1967 Italian film directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini.[1] Pasolini adapted the screenplay from the Greek tragedy Oedipus the King written by Sophocles in 428 BC. The film was mainly shot in Morocco.

Plot

A son is born to a young couple in pre-war Italy. The father, motivated by jealousy, takes the baby into the desert to be abandoned, at which point the film’s setting changes to the ancient world. The child is rescued, named Edipo by King Polybus (Ahmed Belhachmi) and Queen Merope (Alida Valli) of Corinth and raised as their own son. When Edipo (Franco Citti) learns of a prophecy foretelling that he will kill his father and marry his mother, he leaves Corinth believing that Polybus and Merope are his true parents.

On the road to Thebes, Edipo meets Laius (Luciano Bartoli), his biological father, and kills him after an argument. Later Edipo solves the riddle of the Sphinx. For freeing the kingdom of Thebes from the Sphinx's curse Edipo is rewarded with kingship and marriage to queen Jocasta (Silvana Mangano), who is his biological mother. When they discover what they have done, fulfilling the prophecy, Edipo blinds himself and Jocasta commits suicide.

Awards

Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalist
Won Silver Ribbon
Alfredo Bini for Best Producer and Luigi Scaccianoce for Best Production Design
1968

Kinema Junpo Awards
Won Best Foreign Language Film
1970

Venice Film Festival
Nominated for Golden Lion
1967

References

  1. ↑ The New York Times

External links

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