The Bacchantes (film)

Plot

Thebes, the birthplace of Dionysus, suffers a severe drought that fuels popular unrest. The prophet Tiresias blames the drought on the wrath of Dionysus, accusing King Pentheus of refusing to believe in the god's divine nature and failing to revere him. Manto, Tiresias's daughter, receives water from a stranger who gives her wine sacred to Dionysus in return. She confides in her friend Dirce about their unhappy fates: Manto is destined to become a virgin sacred to Demeter, though she loves the servant Lacdamos, while Dirce is engaged to Pentheus but dreams of a life away from court. After a priest reports an omen, Agave, Pentheus's mother, tells her son of an ancient prophecy: Lacdamos will marry a virgin sacred to Demeter, and their son will become king of Thebes. Lacdamos is actually the son of Ino, Agave's elder sister, who had him kidnapped and raised as a servant to secure the throne for Pentheus. The priest identifies Manto as the virgin of the prophecy, and rumors spread that she already knows Lacdamos. To prevent the prophecy and calm the people, Pentheus orders Manto's sacrifice to Demeter for better harvests. Dirce pleads with Pentheus to stop the sacrifice, inadvertently confirming that Manto loves Lacdamos. The next day, the stranger incites the people against Pentheus, and a lightning bolt stops the priest from killing Manto. The Theban youth go to Cithaeron to celebrate bacchanalia for Dionysus and the marriage of Manto and Lacdamos. The stranger reveals that Lacdamos is Pentheus's cousin and the legitimate king, so he may marry Manto despite her consecration to Demeter.