Oedipus Rex (1967 film)

Oedipus Rex
Directed by	Pier Paolo Pasolini
Written by	Sophocles Pier Paolo Pasolini
Produced by	Alfredo Bini
Starring	Silvana Mangano Franco Citti Alida Valli Carmelo Bene Julian Beck Luciano Bartoli Francesco Leonetti Ahmed Belhachmi Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia Giandomenico Davoli Ninetto Davoli
Cinematography	Giuseppi Ruzzolini
Edited by	Nino Baragli
Distributed by	Euro International Films
Release date	3 September 1967 (premiere at VFF)
Running time	104 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian

Oedipus Rex is a 1967 Italian film directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Pasolini adapted the screenplay from the Greek tragedy Oedipus the King written by Sophocles in 428 BC.

Plot

A son is born to a young couple in pre-war Italy. The father, motivated by jealousy, takes the baby into the desert to be abandoned, at which point the film’s setting changes to the ancient world. The child is rescued, named Edipo by King Polybus (Ahmed Belhachmi) and Queen Merope (Alida Valli) of Corinth and raised as their own son. When Edipo (Franco Citti) learns of a prophesy foretelling that he will kill his father and marry his mother, he leaves Corinth believing that Polybus and Merope are his true parents.

On the road to Thebes, Edipo meets Laius (Luciano Bartoli), his biological father, and kills him after an argument. Later Edipo solves the riddle of the Sphinx. For freeing the kingdom of Thebes from the Sphinx's curse Edipo is rewarded with kingship and marriage to queen Jocasta (Silvana Mangano), who is his biological mother. When they discover what they have done, fulfilling the prophecy, Edipo blinds himself and Jocasta commits suicide.

Awards

Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalist
Won Silver Ribbon
Alfredo Bini for Best Producer and Luigi Scaccianoce for Best Production Design
1968

Kinema Junpo Awards
Won Best Foreign Language Film
1970

Venice Film Festival
Nominated for Golden Lion
1967

External links

• Oedipus Rex at AllMovie
• Oedipus Rex at IMDb