Iphigenia (film)
A Greek tragedy of sacrifice and fate.
Iphigenia is a 1977 Greek tragedy film directed by Michael Cacoyannis, based on the Greek myth of Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, who was ordered by the goddess Artemis to be sacrificed. It is the third film in Cacoyannis's 'Greek Tragedy' trilogy, following Electra (1962) and The Trojan Women (1971), and was adapted from his stage production of Euripides' play Iphigenia in Aulis. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Palme d'Or at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Michael Cacoyannis
- Based On
- Iphigenia in Aulis · Euripides
- Starring
- Irene Papas / Tatiana Papamoschou / Kostas Kazakos
- Editing
- Takis Yanopoulos
- Music
- Mikis Theodorakis
- Cinematography
- Giorgos Arvanitis
- Studio
- Greek Film Center
- Distributor
- Cinema V ( / USA / )
- Released
- 1 October 1977
- Runtime
- 127 minutes
- Country
- Greece
- Language
- Greek
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cacoyannis made several changes from Euripides' original play, including replacing the traditional Greek tragic chorus with a chorus of Greek soldiers and introducing Odysseus and Calchas as dramatis personae. The film stars Tatiana Papamoschou as Iphigenia, Kostas Kazakos as Agamemnon, and Irene Papas as Clytemnestra, with a score by Mikis Theodorakis.
Reader's Guide
Iphigenia is significant as the concluding film of Michael Cacoyannis's acclaimed 'Greek Tragedy' trilogy, which brought ancient Greek drama to international cinema audiences. Its nomination for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Palme d'Or at Cannes highlights its artistic recognition. The film's deliberate ambiguity regarding Iphigenia's fate—neither confirming nor denying the miraculous rescue described in myth—reflects Cacoyannis's fidelity to Euripides' original ending while adapting it for modern cinema. The performances, particularly Tatiana Papamoschou's award-winning portrayal of Iphigenia, and Mikis Theodorakis's score contribute to its enduring legacy as a powerful adaptation of classical tragedy. The film also received the Belgian Femina Award and Best Film at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, cementing its place in Greek cinema history.
Did You Know?
- The film was nominated for one Oscar, Best Foreign Language Film.
- Tatiana Papamoschou won the Best Leading Actress Award at the 1977 Thessaloniki Film Festival for her role as Iphigenia.
- The score was composed by Mikis Theodorakis.
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