Oedipus Rex (1967 film)
| Edipo Rex | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Pier Paolo Pasolini |
| Written by | Sophocles Pier Paolo Pasolini |
| Produced by | Alfredo Bini |
| Starring | Silvana Mangano Franco Citti Alida Valli Carmelo Bene Julian Beck Luciano Bartoli Francesco Leonetti Ahmed Belhachmi Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia Giandomenico Davoli Nunetto Davoli |
| Cinematography | Giuseppi Ruzzolini |
| Edited by | Nino Baragli |
| Distributed by | Euro International Films |
Release date |  3 September 1967 (premiere at VFF) |
Running time | 104 min. |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
Edipo Re is a 1967 Italian film directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Pasolini adapted the screenplay from from the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex written by Sophocles in 428 BC.
Plot
A young couple in pre-war Italy have a baby boy. The father moved by jealousy takes the baby into the desert to be abandoned, and left to die from exposure, at which point the film’s setting changes to the ancient world. The child is rescued, named Edipo, and is raised by King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth as their own son. When Edipo (Franco Citti) learns of a prophesy that foretells that he will kill his father and marry his mother he leaves Corinth believing that Polybus (Ahmed Belhachmi) and Merope (Alida Valli) are his real parents.
On the road to Thebes, Edipo meets Laius (Luciano Bartoli) and kills him after an argument. After solving the riddle of the Sphinx, Edipo is rewarded for freeing the kingdom of Thebes from the Sphinx's curse is kingship and marriage to queen Jocasta (Silvana Mangano), who is his biological mother. Thus, the prophecy is fulfilled. When they discover that they have fulfilled 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
External links