Oedipus Rex

In an unspecified ancient land (not Greece but the exteriors were shot in Morocco), a seer tells a young man (Franco Citti) that he will kill his father and marry his mother. So rather then return home to his parents, he travels in the opposite direction where, unbeknownst to him, his destiny will be fulfilled. Pier Paolo Pasolini bookends his radical take on the Sophocles play with a 20th century prologue and epilogue with a dose of Freudian psychology as a young father (also played by Citti) jealously resents the young male infant that places demands on his wife (Silvana Mangano) which remove her emotionally if not physically from him. Pasolini divides the film into two parts. The first part is almost totally visual with very little dialogue and very little owing to Sophocles. The second part is a near faithful retelling of the Oedipus story. As cinema, it's a very intriguing and solid piece of work though handicapped by some inferior acting (with the rare exception, something Pasolini was never much concerned with). But make no mistake about it, this isn't Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, it's Pasolini's. Stylistically, he'd go back to the well two years later with a film version of Euripides' MEDEA with less success. With Alida Valli, Julian Beck and Carmelo Bene.The Water Bearer DVD is in the wide screen format in Italian with burned in English subtitles and features a documentary on Pasolini.

The story of Oedipus Rex comes to life pretty well in this version. But, keen-eared viewers beware. The choice of "suspenseful" music is a flute that's WAY too sharp for comfort, and it tends to give (me, at least) a headache. The subtitles are interestingly done, at first. It switches between regular subtitles and script pages in Italian (like old silent films). Other than those few filming issues, it was pretty well done, for me. I'll show some clips to my kids, but I don't think we'll watch the whole thing. I don't know that I could make it through the flute again!

Classic incomprehensible Pasolini. If you are familiar with his other work you will get a kick out of this. If not there are better places to start.

Not for me. Has English subtitles. I wanted to use this in my English 12 class. I have sent an email to Moviemars, but to date have received no reply. I want to return the item unopened.

Interesting interpretation. Stylistic. A bit disjointed at the end and the beginning. There's a mythical story in the main body of the movie and a modern beginning and ending.

excellent item

i've loved a lot of Pasolini films_this one is really stiff_the actors are good it just keeps telling the same story over and over_mommy does a great job

This is an exciting and faithful production of Oedipus set in modern day Mexico. So beautiful and well told. Gorgeous images.

This was bought as a present wSas tould it was a good

L'article à été retourné non conforme à la description j'attendais oedipus the king et j'ai eu oedipus roi de pasolini!!!!!!!