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Medea | Year: 1970 Classification: Foreign Film - Italian Directed: - Pier Paolo Pasolini A must-see for Callas and Pasolini fans Callas is great as Medea; that was one of her most riveting roles on the opera stage. Here one can sense what a unique artist she was, as she is incredible in this dramatic role. Other than Callas's participation, it's a beautiful piece of cinema, it's shot similarly to Oedipus Rex by Pasolini, so you wil enjoy it if you like Rex. Writing this review, I am thinking again of why films like that are not made anymore...It is for a serious movie buff, so give it a miss if you like Hollywood mass production. Another footnote . . . A lot has been written about the scene that is shown twice. While it is definitely deliberate, I wouldn't say that its NOT a mistake. Pasolini can be frustrating. Half the time you think you are watching a genius re-invent cinema - the other half you are wondering if he even knows which end of the camera to point. After a brilliant opening half I thought I was watching what was surely to become one of my favorite films. Pasolini's interpretation seemed just right - it seemed he had something legitimate to contribute this time. And Callas is perfectly cast. Then we settle into the part that, dramatically speaking, can't go wrong - Medea's betrayal and revenge. It is here, of all places, that Pasolini begins to stumble. The narrative becomes unfocused, passion is dumped in favor of vagueness, the director half-heartedly tries out a number of ideas that don't really work, and we feel robbed of the impact that a straightforward approach would have given us. Feeling all of the tension drain out of this film after such a strong start is a major letdown. By the climax the only grounding force is Callas - and it seems as if Pasolini is working against her, against the story, and against his own film. The real shame here is that Callas ultimately isn't allowed to give us the Medea that she could have. Still, the magic of the first half cannot be completely destroyed - and at no time does this fillm even come close to being as tedious and pretentious as Pasolini's Oedipus. An Ancient Woman Just as Pasolini said,"I draw on the mysterious sensibilities in Maria Callas". He finds Callas to be "an ancient woman" in the sense that she is directly linked to myth and legend. With very little spoken word Callas manages to convey all the pride, rage, and black art that comprises the legend of Medea. Set against an incredibly dramatic backdrop the viewer is nearly hypnotized by this savage story of lust and power.<BR>To the reviewer who thought that the repeated scene of the death of the king and his daughter was a technical error, watch it carefully again. Medea dreams the act of revenge first, then sets it into motion and the dream becomes reality. This is in all the films of this I have seen. It is not a mistake. Buy Medea at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Medea Search with the Priority Search Engine on Medea This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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