OEDIPUS REX
1967,
Compass Films,
104 min,
Italy/Morocco,
Dir: Pier Paolo Pasolini
The first of four films that make up Pasolini’s “Mythical Cycle,” OEDIPUS REX adapts Sophocles’ Greek tragedy in startlingly literal terms. In prewar Italy, the infant Edipo is abandoned in the desert by his jealous father, at which point the film transitions to Pasolini’s breathtaking ancient Greece. Raised by adopted parents who happen to be the king and queen of Corinth, the young orphan soon leaves his comfortable refuge, attempting to outrun a prophesy that foretells that he will one day kill his father in order to marry his mother. Featuring impressive set and costume design as well as unforgettable sword fights, OEDIPUS REX is a stunning adaptation of Greek mythology.