I can't believe nobody has posted anything on Electra before. It's a great movie! Probably the best adaptation of a Greek tragedy ever made, and not a single comment!
shareI watched this movie for a Greek drama class and yes, wow, extremely powerful and educational. It's one of those films that every rightful college graduate should watch.
shareIndeed! one of the best adaptations of a greek tragedy that I've seen on the screen. Of course the fact that it's in Greek helps a lot to set a proper atmosphere. Here the heroes and villains speaks in greek not in english with a new yorker accent!
Lassally's cinematography is breathtaking in all its bleakness and Irene Papas is superb as the vengeful Electra.
IMO Electra plus Pasolini's Medea and Oedipus Rex are the best adaptations of greek tragedies.
Although I haven't seen yet Iphigenia, another greek tragedy written by Euripides, also adapted for the screen by Mr. Cacoyannis (or Kakogiannis). I am looking forward to see it ASAP.
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I agree Iphigenia was better. The Trojan Women was incredible.
shareI also agree that "Iphigenia" was better, but that's not a slight on "Electra", which was more like seeing a stage play done in a pastoral setting instead of on stage.
I did enjoy how people were strategically placed during dramatic or crucial scenes, but at times the "stageyness" did seem a bit overwhelming and overlydramatic at times. The dialogue and scenes in "Iphigenia" flowed more naturally & I also loved the grandeur of it all.
I also wish now that I had watched "Iphigenia" first; I really think it would have made me enjoy "Electra" even more. Irene Papas was brilliant in both films!!
You've done some bad things, sweetie.
Both this and Iphigenia are hidden gems. I only stumbled over them - idle curiosity and Netflix was streaming both title. Loved both.
I liked the staginess of Electra - this is (imo) supposed to be something bigger than a mere story. In most movies I would have been put off by it, too, but it worked for me here.
I've read both Sophocles' and Euripides' version of "Electra". While I prefer Sophocles' version on paper--it has a grittiness which I found quite striking powerful--I think Euripides' version which they used here was better for a movie format as it has a more emotional resonance, especially at the end. Terrific film.
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