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Customer Reviews of Iphigenia

All three movies are based on the works of Euripides - who was born approximately 484 BCE and died circa 406 BCE. Out of all the ancient Greek tragedians his work has arguably the most relevance to a contemporary audience as it eloquently demonstrates the causes and nature of human suffering especially in circumstances of war or multiple murder - subjects that we have become disturbingly familiar with in recent history without perhaps having full understanding of the painful emotional consequences involved.

"Iphigenia" is considerably more low-budget than the visually impressive second film in the trilogy and yet it has it's own considerable emotional power. Like the first film of the three it is spoken in Greek with English subtitles. As the film opens the Greek army is waiting at Aulis for the winds to pick up in order that they may sail to Troy. But they have been waiting many months and no such winds have arrived. The troops have become restless and are on the verge of mutiny. Agamemnon - the commander in chief - has sought advice from the Oracle at Delphi as to the best solution to this problem. To his shock and horror the answer returns that in order to sail to Troy and be successful in the ensuing war he must sacrifice his beloved daughter Iphigenia.

Initially Agamemnon refuses to perform such a deed. He attempts to seek any way out that he possibly can. But eventually he is persuaded by his brother Menelaus (the abduction of whose wife Helen sparked the Trojan War) that it is a tragic but necessary solution to their impasse.

Agamemnon decides to lure Iphigenia to Aulis on the pretext that she is to marry Achilles. But little does he know that Clytemnestra (played by Irene Pappas), his strong-willed wife, has decided (against his expressed instructions) to accompany her daughter to the proposed wedding.

The first half of this film is rather unimpressive. You have the feeling you are watching a fairly cheap Greek tv movie. And yet, from the point where Iphigenia (played by a marvellous swan-necked, androgenous young Greek actress) meets Agamemnon, her tortured father, the film really takes off. Clytemnestra finds out her husband's terrible intention and attempts to recruit Achilles as her ally in order to save her teenage daughter's life. But the wily Odysseus, with his demagogic influence on the Greek army, stands in their way.

The final twenty minutes of the film have as much emotional power as any play or movie I have ever seen. The sheer heartbreaking dilemma of the characters is conveyed in a stunningly convincing manner. At the screening I attended many people were on the verge of tears during this concluding section. I would unreservedly recommend this film to anyone with the slightest interest in either Classical History, Greek Tragic Theatre or an emotionally fulfilling cinematic experience.

Superb acting.
A beautiful film - I should be very grateful if someone could let me know where I can get the video. E-mail: christina.o'shaughnessy@unece.org

Many thanks

a legend, but only a few seem to have seen it!
tell me where I can get it, please