IPHIGENIA (1977)
Label: Radiance Films
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 129 Minutes
Audio: Greek PCM 1.0 Mono with Optional Newly Improved English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1)
Director: Michael Cacoyannis
Cast: Irene Papas, Kostas Kazakos, Kostas Karras, Tatiana Papamoschou, Panos Mihalopoulos, Hristos Tsagas
Iphigenia (1977), directed by Michael Cacoyannis (Zorba the Greek) is a Greek tragedy based on the Greek myth of Iphigenia (Tatiana Papamoschou), the daughter of Agamemnon (Kostas Kazakos) and Clytemnestra (Irene Papas, Don't Torture a Duckling), who was ordered by the goddess Artemis to be sacrificed. The story set just just before the Trojan War, Agamemnon and his brother Menelaus (Costas Carras ) have gathered an army in Aulis to retrieve Menelaus's wife after she has run away to Troy with Paris, but have been waylaid by storms sent by angered gods. As they await favorable winds to carry their boats to Troy the army are camped out on the beach and become bored, Agamemnon allows them to take sheep from a nearby temple dedicated to Artemis, which is when the sacred deer is accidentally killed, angering Calchas (Dimitris Aronis), the temples high priest who delivers the oracle that says his beloved first-born daughter Iphigenia must be sacrificed to atone for the offense and guarantee safe passage of his.
Now he becomes torn between family and country, choosing to keep the details from his wife, Clytemnestra he sends for his daughter to be brought to Aulis, under the guise of to marring Achilles (Panos Mihalopoulos), but wrestling with his choice, keeping up the deceptions leads to turmoil between him and his wife and daughter, with e fate of his daughter's life in the balance he struggles with his decision and the ramifications. It's truly a masterpiece of epic Greek storytelling, the imagery just pulls you right in with its grand scale and costuming, and the main cast is absolutely terrific. If you're a fan of Greek tragedies this need to be seen, period.
Audio/Video: Iphigenia (1977) looks terrific on Blu-ray from Radiance, presented in 1080p HD in 1.66:1 widescreen. Grain is well-managed, textures and detail is pleasing, and colors and skin tones looks natural and warm throughout. There are instances of minor print damage and reel mark changes, but the film remains filmic looking throughout. Audio comes by way of mono Greek via PCM 1.0, the track is clean and free of age related hiss or distortions, dialogue is delivered without issue, and the lush score by Mikis Theodorakis's (Zorba the Greek) has some nice heft in the mix.
Radiance supply some insightful extras, both new and archival, we get a new 25-min Interview with Greek film expert Dimitris Papanikolaou on Michael Cacoyannis, plus an 11-min Archival press conference interview with Michael Cacoyannis (1977), and a 6-min Archival interview with director Michael Cacoyannis and actress Irene Papas (1977). This Limited Edition release, which is limited to 3000 copies, includes a Reversible Wrap featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow, plus a Limited Edition 10-page Illustrated Booklet featuring new writing by Vrasidas Karalis, as well as cast and crew credits and notes about the transfer. The single-disc release arrives in a clear, full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip.
Special Features:
- New interview with Greek film expert Dimitris Papanikolaou on Michael Cacoyannis (2025, 25:02)
- Archival press conference interview with Michael Cacoyannis (1977, 11:03)
- Archival interview with director Michael Cacoyannis and actress Irene Papas (1977, 6:12)
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
- Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Vrasidas Karalis
- Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
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