Antigone

I am a product of the educational experiments of the late 1960's and early 1970's - which meant that I was assigned none of the classics growing up. Greek and Roman literature - forget about it. We read Vonnegut rather than Shakespeare in high school. I have often felt cheated in my education because of it. I am as big of a liberal as they come but I do believe that all students need a background in the literary canon (so there, I said it) which makes me sound like Bloom.

So, embarrasingly, this was my introduction to Antigone. It was an all-Greek production with Irene Papas playing the title character. Yorgos Javalles does a fine job using the natural scenery and ruins (but not then) of ancient Greece to give the film real character and remove it from any form of staginess. While I was impressed with Papas it was the tyrannical King Creon that moved me the most. Some of the commentary on his ruling style (at least in the first half of the film) reminded me of a certain G W but unfortunately he didn't have a downfall. I strongly recommend this film; I find it highly accessible and could be put to great use in the classroom.