Iphigenia

Iphigenia

Iphigenia (1977)

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In The Odyssey, Odysseus spends ten years trying to get home from Troy. In 1977, a Greek director filmed the part of the story Hollywood has never touched: what it cost to sail there in the first place.

IPHIGENIA (1977) opens on a thousand ships stranded at Aulis. The wind has died. The army is restless in the heat. And a priest delivers the price of passage: Agamemnon must sacrifice his own daughter to raise the wind that launches the Trojan War.

Michael Cacoyannis had just finished documenting the Turkish invasion of his native Cyprus when he made this film, completing the Euripides trilogy he began with ELECTRA (1962) and THE TROJAN WOMEN (1971). He knew precisely what he was saying about leaders who spend their children on wars.

He cast Irene Papas as Clytemnestra, then gave the title role to Tatiana Papamoschou, a thirteen-year-old with no acting experience. She carried the film to Oscar and Palme d'Or nominations, and won Best Actress at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Her plea for her life is one of the most devastating scenes in Greek cinema.

Euripides ended his play with a miracle, a deer swapped onto the altar at the last instant. Cacoyannis ends the film differently.

Every story about coming home begins with what it took to leave.

About the Film

Directed By
Mihalis Kakogiannis
Runtime
127 minutes
Released
September 10, 1977
US Theatrical
November 20, 1977
Certification
NR
Country
Greece
Starring
Irene Papas, Kostas Kazakos, Kostas Karras, Tatiana Papamoschou, Christos Tsagas
More Credits
Genres
Action, Drama
Language
Greek
Origin
GR
Studios
Greek Film Centre
Collection
Greek Tragedy Trilogy
Written By
Mihalis Kakogiannis
Cinematography
Giorgos Arvanitis
Music
Míkis Theodorakis
Also Starring
Panos Mihalopoulos, Angelos Yannoulis, Dimitris Aronis, Eirini Koumarianou, Giorgos Oikonomou

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      1. Cecilia Bucca you said it! I miss movies made for adults who could and did read, written and directed by literate adults, starring adults who could at least give a convincing impersonation of having read a book, ever! Is that too much to ask?

    1. Joseph Krygier Drama students from my university mounted a bare-bones performance of The Trojan Women on a wharf in Nafplion (not far from Mycenae and Argos) back in 1993. It was a rainy day in March, and all of our classmates stood throughout, mesmerized by the words and by some really fantastic acting (Cassandra’s madness was terrifying, as the girl playing the role was usually quiet and reserved). The gods must have been smiling on the performance as I can recall three specific incidents when the environment contributed with precise and devastating timing. As the women chanted their account of the burning of Troy, a mournful chorus of church bells in the nearby town broke out. When the messenger told of Hector’s son being tossed from the battlements, a particularly strong wave punctuated the text. And finally, as the women contemplated their remaining lives as war prizes in exile, a single sailing ship crossed the harbor into the mist. I’ve seldom witnessed anything as powerful.

    1. Colin Forcey, that’s not what happens in Homer’s version. There’s blood and tears, and vicious violence, which eventually ends with the Mother of the young girl taking vengeance upon her husband the King. It truly is a brutal Greek tragedy. It’s a shame film directors and writers change or alter things when adapting Homer.

    2. Colin Forcey whether Iphigenia is sacrificed is left ambiguous (which leads into the follow-up in Iphigenia in Tauris), but the movie doesn’t end there. It ends on Clytemnestra’s angry eyes (underlined by Theodorakis’ score) as she sees the Greek ships sailing out.

    2. Malcolm Barres-Baker I had to see this potion in college as part of my Lit course when we were doing the Odyssey. I think I’ll try to find it streaming to watch the entire thing. Because what I saw of it, I have to agree with your assessment.

  12. So get your scorecard out
    
    In Homer and Homer adjacent movies, Irene Papas played:

    Helen of Troy
    Penelope
    Clytemestra
    Electra (Agamemnon and Clytemestra’s other daughter)
    Anticlea (Odyssey’s mother)
    😁

    1. Patrick Stewart

      Trojan Women (1971, Cacoyannis)
      Odyssea (1968, Rossi)
      Iphigenea (1977, Cacoyannis)
      Elektra (1962, Cacoyannis)
      The Odyssey (1997, Konchalovski)

      I have watched all but the last which I had to look up. She also played Antigone in Tzavellas’ Antigone (1961).

  17. And this episode was later copied in Game of Thrones, when Stannis Baratheon has his own daughter sacrificed to putatively help his army, at the similarly monstrous advice of another priest, Melisandre.

    3. Guillermo L Bosch Yes, and even Marvel took a page when Thanos sacrificed Gamora to capture the Soul stone and complete the infinity gauntlet that gave him the power to end half the planet’s life with a snap of his fingers. (Thanos himself being inspired by Thanatos, the escort to the underworld who personifies peaceful, nonviolent death.)

  18. Iphigenia was sacrificed in the epic poems and myths, a much later story had her switched out and spending the war safe. However, this murder is a major part of Clytemnestra’s reasoning for killing her husband and the torture of Orestes by the Furies.

    1. Skye Wescott and possibly orchestrating the whole tension of the movie. This movie treads a very fine line on demythologization. In fact, Odysseus’ reputation in the ancient world was very ambivalent. It is not an accident that he shows up in Canto 26 of Dante’s Inferno among the evil counsellors.

      1. Robert Krishnaop The funny thing is that Greek poets then revenged themselves on Dante for his hyperprincipled condemnation of figures both mythological and real. Constantine Cavafy has a poem titled Che Fece il Gran Rifiuto that skewers Dante.

  22. An absolutely great movie with the magnificent, unforgettable Irene Papas. I wonder how many among those who are complaining about lack of “authenticity ” in the Odyssey would even bother to go to a theater to watch this very Greek film, with a stunning Greek cast by one of the best Greek directors and quite faithful to Euripides’ Greek tragedy. It was not a blockbuster when it first came out. In many places it didn’t even reach commercial theaters. I lived in a large city and had to see it in a small art theater in a university. I wonder how well it would do box office wise if it were re-released today. I wonder if Elon Musk would bother to watch it or if he has even seen the dvd.

      1. Robert Krishnaop And may I just say that IMHO this 1968 version is the truest to Homer’s epic. I loved it when I saw it on UK TV decades ago. I bought the DVD, which has Italian soundtrack and no subtitles. One can find it on Youtube also, with French subtitles. If anyone knows of an edition with English subs, please let me know.

  24. If this movie had Bronze Age period armour and a couple of chariots, it would be the best ancient Greek movie by far. The dialogue and acting were superb, and the use of an all-Greek cast adds a quality that can’t otherwise be replicated. I loved it 8/10.

      1. Lee Mason he does? That’s one of the things which are striking when reading the Iliad, is that a lot of details in the costumes seem to make no sense UNLESS you keep in mind that he’s describing Mycenian armours

      2. In regard to the armour, some details are accurate, some are not. Homer decribes the shields as circular (Bronze age shields were tall and relative narrow), he describes iron tools (in the Bronze Age), he has no idea whatsoever how Mycenaean Greeks used chariots in warfare and so on.

  27. The new Odyssey *does* touch on this, mentioning Ag sacrificing his daughter to ensure his victory, (and disparages him for doing so) but these details in this post add detail and the reasons. Will try to catch Iphigenia!

      1. Robert Krishnaop Thx! Good week to review a whole buncha different Odysseys and adjacent stories. Just saw the Nolan Odyssey — very impressive. Ralph Fiennes was terrific in “The Return”, where the whole movie is like the last hour of Nolan’s.

  39. I had the pleasure of seeing the Euripides play, Iphigenia at Aulis at the Jean Cocteau Repertory Theatre over 30 years ago. The opening moment of Agamemnon lifting his hand and dropping a feather straight down, to show there was no wind, was a brilliant directorial choice.

  45. «Іфігенія» (1977) як маніфест проти безглуздості війни

    Після чергової важкої ночі під обстрілами зовсім інакше сприймаєш класику. Хотілося б поділитися думками про фільм «Іфігенія» Михаліса Какоянніса (1977).

    Для мене це, мабуть, найкраща і найсправжніша екранізація міфів про Троянську війну. Її головна ідея б’є під дих: це страшна історія про принесення в жертву абсолютно невинної дівчини лише заради того, щоб дати хід кривавій бойні. Це антивоєнний фільм.

    Так само, як і «Одіссея», яка для мене є перш за все антивоєнною історією, а не просто пригодою з монстрами. У цьому ж ряду для мене стоїть і нещодавній фільм «Повернення» з Ральфом Файнсом. Він неймовірно показує весь жах наслідків: усвідомлення героєм того, що він накоїв, ту порожнечу і руйнацію, яку залишає по собі війна.

    Як сучасну людину, мене в цих картинах приваблюють аж ніяк не батальні сцени чи романтизація «подвигів». Мене чіпляє ідея авторів розібратися в головному: війна не була потрібна нікому. Вона лише перемелює людські долі заради амбіцій та ілюзій.

  52. Some men will sacrifice their families to go to war, (or other adventures), when (if) they come home, it is to broken relationships.
    Others, (Odysseus), depart reluctantly and go through hell trying to return to family life.

    Similarly Achilles gives up hope of a leading a family for the illusory “glory” of war. While Hector goes to war to protect his hopes for his family.

      1. True: two shots and a line of dialogue. I’ve seen stage productions that portray Iphigenia younger than in the Cacoyannis film. It depends on the impact the director wishes to take. GAME OF THRONES adapted the myth to great effect with a young girl.

  67. True, and Euripides wrote plays about Iphigenia. She’s mentioned in Nolan’s film by the way, and a short scene of Agamemnon’s murder by Clytemnestra is shown; so its not omitted.

  70. “Iphigenia” is a stunning story of humanity and the Gods. A moral story of disparity and unintended consequences. Generational in telling, and of a fantastical spirituality, we find resignation within. Not for the weak of heart. Iphigenia surrenders herself as a Christ-like sacrifice. Watch! Yikes.

  72. I’ve been thinking a lot about Cacoyannis’s trilogy. And remember, when he first cast Irene Papas in the early 1960s, she was a complete unknown to international audiences. The Odyssey has been a living text for thousands of years. In Athens this summer, Odyssey adjacent stories were reprised & adapted. Each adaptation adds to the story so I openly welcome earnest attempts, while also reminding people there is a culturally specific place in the world where it has never died.

  82. I actually saw that film in a theater that year. Old theater in Newton Corner, MA. The owners were Greek. Think that’s why it was playing. But I remember it. Wasn’t she brought there being told she would wed? I remember the dialoguexwith her standing back to back with her supposed intended. Or I completely mis remembered it. Long time ago.

    2. Kathy McGinty Dunn Yeah she was told she would marry Achilles which was even more devastating and Achilles was so nice and offered to marry her even though he he knew nothing about it but she didn’t want him to die for just that

  83. This is later myths. Homer never tells this story. All of Agamemnon’s daughters are alive. Biggest thing is Agamemnon is just painted as a very poor leader, but there were no calm winds to prevent sailing to Troy in the Iliad or mentioned in the Odyssey.

    Also the rescue narrative is older. Aeschylus is the first to state that Agamemnon actually sacrificed his daughter. The Cypria is the earliest tale that has this story and that element is added later.

  84. U srednjoj školi pohađala sam kolegij scenska umjetnost. Ovo je bio film u sklopu toga. Jako impresivan. Svi ti muškarci, oružje i žrtvovanje žene /djevojčice da bi mogli poći u rat. Agamemnon je morao vlastitu kći žrtvovati da umilostivi bogove, da lađe krenu… Helena je Ifigenijina teta

  87. I saw this years ago. It blew me away. What I remember most was Irene Pappas’ rage and grief at the sacrifice of Iphigenia. It’s a prelude to Clytemnestra’s revenge in Aeschylus’ Oresteia.

      2. Ben Clift I feel like he’s either exaggerating or including the cost of all his concessions. An imax ticket where I live is $15 (maybe a few dollars more for prime time showings). £12.99 converts to $17.44 so it seems like I’m the one actually getting a good deal.

      3. There are actually only 40 true 70mm IMAX theatres in the entire world and only 25 in the US. 70mm is the format that the Odyssey was filmed for. There are 400 IMAX theatres in the US, but they are not true 70MM, but “standard digital IMAX or 2D IMAX and some consider them “Lie MAX.” For true IMAX 70mm, my town at the ticket is 51 dollars, but for the non-70mm IMAX it is17-25 dollars,( for XD, which is big screen by one level down a ticket is 18 and for standard it is 14). Not many cities have true IMAX, but many have IMAX. What you paid is consistent with IMAX, but not true 70mm IMAX. In the UK, there are only 3 IMAX 70mm theatres, with 2 in London, and the tickets are less expensive, perhaps it has something to do with regulations across countries, BUT the seats were sold out at least through the middle of Sept and presently you can’t make a reservation past the middle of Sept. I did look up a theatre chain in London with 2D Imax and it was 28 pounds for an evening show ticket, and that wasn’t even 70mm IMAX!

      4. Cheyenne Romaine Actually not a good deal, but the standard ticket price for IMAX in Montana (I looked up the theatre in Missoula), and it is NOT 70mm IMAX because there are only 25 theatres in the US that have 70mm IMAX, the format for which the Odyssey was shot, and none are in Montana or even in the in the West aside from CA and NV… so I wasn’t exaggerating.

      5. DG Look Missoula is going to be more expensive—and it’s also not where I live so I really don’t care that you looked up the prices for Missoula. I know what I paid the last time I went—and yes, it was $15 for a matinee. I think $18 for an evening show. Which means it’s less than the conversion rate for UK. And way less than whatever bullshit you’re paying. And yes, I’m aware we don’t have “true” IMAX, but thanks for mansplaining to me. But none of that confirms that you weren’t exaggerating about your own prices. And if you actually weren’t, then you still look like a chump paying $50 for a single movie ticket 😂😂😂

  91. If you are interested in Iphigenia’s follow-up story, listen to Gluck’s opera ‘Iphigenie en Tauride’ where she is discovered to be living as a priestess. She is found there by her brother, Orestes.

  102. Cacoyiannis was an absolute visionary and one of the most brilliant cinematographers of the 20th century. His trilogy is a masterclass on what it means to honor the original text while making a modern film with contemporary commentary

  113. I really love this movie. When you see Irene Pappas standing in her chariot at the end of the movie, with the wind whipping her black hair around her burning eyes, you are really seeing a hatred that is going to easily continue until her husband’s return after the war.

  116. there was an art house cinema in my hometown of Melbourne – appropriately called the Athenaeum – where all these movies would be shown on Sunday nights in the 1970s. Melbourne in the 70s was dead as a dodo, but I have very fond memories of going to see these movies… and the divine Irene Pappas.

  117. You obviously haven’t seen the film. Yes the Iphigenia story is there as is Agamemnon’s death at the hands of Helen’s sister. Nolan gave people what they wanted, the big battles, but he also threw in Aeschylus and Euripides with Trojan women.. I am sure that the Greek film is excellent, but no need to diss one in favour of the other ( PS I gave Odyssey a B+, so this is not some fan writing, but I am impressed with Nolan’s daring and attempt to scale the heights

  119. I’d love to see this film, Greek tragedy has fascinated me since I did a short course as a student. Iphigenia’s tragic story is referenced in Sheri S Tepper’s brilliant dystopian fantasy The Gate To Women’s Country.

  122. Iphigenia is a useful example of how Abrahamism worked its way into European acceptance. For better or worse, Yahweh explicitly refused human sacrifices.

    which was popular with the people who tended to get chosen for these sacrifices.

  133. I saw this film when I was a teenager in Greece. It was amazing! ❤️❤️❤️ Especially, it was really Greek, transporting the spirit of the Greek tragedy with a completely Greek cast of excellent actors!

  134. This was a great film. Nolan’s Odyssey is great as well. It may not be a direct adaptation of the source material, but it’s a great example of the late Bronze Age term paper we were all tasked to write in Western Civ.

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