Pasolini both humanizes the classical legend and reaches deep into the modern psyche to find its origins in ancient agonies.
Oedipus Rex
Pasolini’s Terrifying… Compassionate… Magnificent…
1967 · 1h 45m · Not Rated
Drama
Directed by
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Overview
In pre-war Italy, a young couple have a baby boy. The father, however, is jealous of his son - and the scene moves to antiquity, where the baby is taken into the desert to be killed. He is rescued, given the name Oedipus, and brought up by the King and Queen of Corinth as their son. One day an oracle informs Oedipus that he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Horrified, he flees Corinth and his supposed parents - only to get into a fight and kill an older man on the road…
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
It's not always necessary to understand Pasolini to be riveted by what he does.
One of the most underrated, neglected, and powerful of Pier Paolo Pasolini's features.
Pasolini's working of the Sophocles tragedy, though not wholly successful, has its very definite strengths.
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