Euripides: Iphigenia (1977 film)-Iphigenia arrives at Aulis

Tatiana Papamoschou ... Ifigeneia
Irene Papas ... Klytaimnistra
Kostas Kazakos ... Agamemnonas
Kostas Karras ... Menelaos

in Greek, with english subtitles

Tatiana Papamoschou received Best Leading Actress Award at the 1977 Thessaloniki Film Festival for this role.

Produced and directed by Mihalis Kakogiannis (Michael Cacoyannis)




Original Music by Mikis Theodorakis




Cinematography by Giorgos Arvanitis




Introductory Note By Michael Cacoyannis for The Sydney Greek Film Festival, 2006:

"Looking back at my career as director -- producer -- writer, I realise to what extent my choice of subject was determined by the personality and special gifts of some actor -- mostly female, whose striking looks and emotional complexity I felt challenged to explore.

Four of my first five films, all shot in Greece, starred Elli Lambetti, in original screenplays that explored her mysterious beauty and wide range from sophisticated comedy to violent drama. The fifth, "Stella", was tailored to the sensual and explosive personality of Melina Mercouri and launched her on the international scene.

I had been toying with the idea of adapting a Greek tragedy to the screen, when I met Irene Papas in the early sixties. Her unique classical beauty, her intelligence and emotional power were just the right ingredients for the title role in "Electra", which I scripted with her in mind. Distributed by United Artists, the film met with international acclaim, planting the seed for a trilogy about the Atreids and the Trojan war. This would be undertaken after my next project, designed to explore the power and versatility of a male actor for a change, that of Anthony Quinn, as Zorba the Greek, shot entirely on the island of Crete.

My plans for the trilogy had to be temporarily abandoned when military dictatorship forced me into exile. Dividing my time between Paris and New York, I had to be contented with directing the other two plays of the trilogy -- "Iphigenia in Aulis" and "The Trojan Women" - on the stage. It took five years before I felt ready to pick up the strands of my film career, shooting "The Trojan Women" in Spain on a modest budget with a cast headed by four brilliant actresses, taking token fees of $25,000 each: Katharine Hepburn (an old friend), Vanessa Redgrave, Genevieve Bujold and Irene Papas, this time playing Helen, the beautiful sister of Clytemnestra, Electra's mother.

Returning to Greece, I eventually completed the trilogy, having discovered a stunning 13-yearold, Tatiana Papamoskou, to play Iphigenia, sacrificial victim to the Gods in the cause of war. Playing Clytemnestra, her heartbroken mother, is Irene Papas, who, owing to the time lapses between films, became a vital link in the trilogy by portraying three women of different ages, belonging to the same family".

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Euripides
• Ἀγαμέμνων
• Iphigenia
• Ευριπιδη
• Aulis
• Ειρήνη
• Παππά
• Cacoyannis
• Klytaimnistra

[Aristocles2]

excellent... far better than 300, Troy etc

[lambromania]

very good!

[MoviesYourWay]

@Aristocles2 It is better than 300 and Troy because this follows the original story faithfully whereas the other too are two Hollywood F**k-ups!

[myfongjo]

when the scene shifts to Mycenae, how is it ironically contrasted with the soldiers' camp at Aulis?

[Ifigen196]

@GaryPansey it is modern greek...

[pinuuremus]

One of my favourite movies. I went to the cinema in 77 to see it and was very impressed. Brilliant actors and brilliant movie.

[Cosmospectrvm]

Thanks for upload this movie. It´s magnific.

[enternikos]

its so great!! please help me download it how i can find the order

[yepheth]

that's a story not history. Athen at Pericles' time (500 ac) it's history

[Xenu]

Modern Greek. It's a wonderful adaptation of the play, directed by Michael Cacoyannis.

[GaryPansey]

Hello. I am teaching myself Ancient Greek. Is this video in Ancient or Modern Greek? Thank you.

I also study Chinese to read the "Nine Commentaries." Quite a difference!