Antigone (1961)

In the ancient realm of Thebes, an unholy saga unfolds. King Oedipus, the once mighty ruler, succumbs to a fate of his own making. Having inadvertently slain his father and wed his mother, Jocasta, he births a lineage tainted by his deeds. From this ill-fated union emerge two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, and two daughters, Ismene and the bold Antigone. Blinded by guilt, Oedipus relinquishes his throne and descends into a life of beggary and exile. In his wake, Eteocles and Polynices agree to reign alternately, but the thirst for power proves insatiable. Eteocles, refusing to cede the throne after the first year, condemns Polynices to exile. A bitter feud ignites, leading to a bloody confrontation that sees the brothers fall by each other's hand. Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, ascends amidst the turmoil. He decrees a noble burial for Eteocles while condemning Polynices' body to the harsh wilderness, a feast for jackals and vultures. This cruel edict ignites the fiery spirit of Antigone, betrothed to Creon's surviving son, Haemon. With a defiant heart, Antigone challenges the king's command, honoring her brother with an illicit burial. Her rebellion, however, incurs Creon's wrath. Her punishment is severe - to be entombed alive, forsaken and forgotten. But the echo of her courage reverberates through the stone corridors of the castle, stirring the blind prophet, Tiresias. He warns Creon of the gods' fury, but his words fall on deaf ears. A tragic chain of events is set in motion, one that will shatter the very foundations of the Theban monarchy. Antigone, imprisoned within her living tomb, chooses her own end. Haemon, torn between love and duty, attempts to slay his father before turning the sword on himself. Upon hearing of her son's tragic end, Creon's wife, Eurydice, also succumbs to despair. Creon, once surrounded by family and power, is left destitute and alone. His kingdom stands, but at a cost too great to bear. The tale of Antigone serves as a bitter reminder of the price of pride, the power of defiance, and the enduring strength of family bonds, even in death.

Antigone is a drama movie featuring Irene Papas and directed by Yorgos Tzavellas.

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