"Antigone" (1961 Film) With Irene Papas: sealed in a Cave

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ShakespeareAndMore
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from the play by Sophocles

Irene Papas ... Antigone
Manos Katrakis ... Creon

Director:
Yorgos Javellas (George Tzavellas)

in Greek with English subtitles

Much of Antigone's humanity comes thru in this scene, though more by Papas' acting than the words. Antigone clearly does want to live, and laments her impending death. Missing from this filmed except are the famous (or infamous, around line 1000) comments where she provides rather unconvincing reasons for her actions, and furthur confesses that she would not do all this over the body of a husband or son--repudiating her earlier stance. Some scholars have argued that this passage isn't authentic, but their reasons are rather subjective, and no less an authority than Aristotle quoted them and gave no hint that they may be spurious.

In any case, her actions and words are those of a young woman, filled the certainty and righteousness of youth (Oscar Wilde "I am not young enough to know everything") who, moreover, has not experienced a husband or a child. Antigone is closer to her dead family than anyone living anyway. She is in a rather disraught state now, but like any fine Greek, has to find reasons. But her "reasons" were always more emotional, or to be more exact, pre-rational, anyway. In her cross-examination by Creon (lines 550-570 or so), he zeros in quite effectively on her "reasonings" and she has to retreat into dogma.

Remember that at no time does Tiresias say her stance is correct, and the proper burial of her brother would have taken place without her intervention.

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