Oedipus Rex

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Overview

This updated version of the Greek tragedy from Sophocles bears some slight resemblance to the original mythology. Edipo (Franco Citti) is abandoned by his father after the father receives an oracle telling him he will die at the hands of his own son. Raised by a childless couple, Edipo goes through a series of adventures before he marries his own mother. When they discover they are mother and son, Edipo blinds himself and his mother commits suicide. It's enough to give the ...
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More About This Product

Overview

This updated version of the Greek tragedy from Sophocles bears some slight resemblance to the original mythology. Edipo (Franco Citti) is abandoned by his father after the father receives an oracle telling him he will die at the hands of his own son. Raised by a childless couple, Edipo goes through a series of adventures before he marries his own mother. When they discover they are mother and son, Edipo blinds himself and his mother commits suicide. It's enough to give the audience a complex.
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Special Features

Widescreen format; Never seen before documentary "Pier Paolo Pasolini"
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler
Pier Paolo Pasolini's adaptation of Oedipus Rex manages the difficult trick of being both fascinating and uninvolving. It's a frustrating film, one that many will find pretentious and/or boring and that others will find coldly beautiful. Whatever one's reaction, it is unlikely that many viewers will feel satisfied by Oedipus; even those who justifiably admire it for its sparsely stunning visuals and for the intensely personal stamp that Pasolini puts on it will likely feel that they are merely observers, distanced and kept on the outside of the emotional wall that surrounds the film. Certainly, Pasolini is being exceedingly true to his vision, but it's one that is so keenly tied to his own specific psyche that it defies the close participation of others. Yet there is something undeniably intriguing about watching an artist of his stamp working in this particular manner; it doesn't sustain one's interest in the piece, but it does make it a unique experience. Part of the "problem" with Oedipus is that Pasolini stages it in a deliberately detached manner, discouraging the viewer from getting caught up in the inherent drama of the piece but simultaneously challenging him to look at the piece as archetype and ritual and to search for the truth that lies at its roots. It's a noble aim, but definitely not to everyone's taste. Many will also feel that the dual time periods -- modern at the beginning and end, primitively ancient in the middle -- are confusing, although the director clearly is making an attempt at a statement involving contemporary life. In the title role, Franco Citti is amateurish, but that is precisely the effect Pasolini is looking for. Much better are Silvana Mangano and, all too briefly, Alida Valli. The stark desert settings, the inventive costumes and the insightful cinematography all create a distinctive milieu, which even Oedipus' detractors are likely to appreciate.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 3/14/2003
  • UPC: 759259140325
  • Original Release: 1967

    • Rating:

  • Source: Water Bearer Films
  • Aspect Ratio: Alternate Wide Screen (1.78:1)
  • Presentation: Letterbox
  • Language: Italiano
  • Time: 1:50:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 35,106

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Silvana Mangano Jocasta
Franco Citti Oedipus
Alida Valli Merope
Julian Beck Tiresias
Carmelo Bene Creon
Luciano Bartoli Laius
Ninetto Davoli Messenger
Francesco Leonetti Servant
Pier Paolo Pasolini High Priest
Technical Credits
Pier Paolo Pasolini Director, Score Composer, Musical Direction/Supervision, Screenwriter
Nino Baragli Editor
Alfredo Bini Producer
Danilo Donati Costumes/Costume Designer
Giuseppe Ruzzolini Cinematographer
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Menu

Side #1 --
   Start Movie
   "Pier Paolo Pasolini" - A Film Maker's Life
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