Oedipus King of Movies

This is a typical Greek tragedy written by Sophocles Stars. Christopher Plummer is the expressively tortured Oedipus. There is a successful monarch who starts his descending slide when he discovers that, he has done an unethical action of killing his own father, and then married his mother. This is when Oedipus is requested to come up and revenge for his previous ruler. Unfortunately, Jocasta, his mother hangs herself. The tormented king reacts by tearing his eyes and wandering the land like a destitute.

Oedipus, a bouncing baby boy, is born in pre-war Italy by a young couple. His father is King Laius of Thebes and the mother is Queen Jocasta. Driven by jealousy, the king fears that his son might usurp him anytime. He, therefore, makes a painful decision of taking him to the wilderness. His aim is to abandon him and allow cruel death take his life away. Unfortunately, to the king and fortunately to the son, a good shepherd appears and saves the baby’s life. The shepherd takes him to King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth. The childless couple adopts the baby with great joy and names him Edipo. He becomes part of the family enjoying every right of a real son.

Oedipus grows into a handsome and strong young man. He receives a prophecy from an oracle, telling him that he has to murder his father, then marry his mother, and give birth to her. He is horrified by this prophecy understanding that King Polybus and Queen Merope are his real parents. He plans to avoid Corinth using every possible means. Eventually, he comes up with a plan to go to Thebes.

On his way to Thebes, Oedipus meets King Laius. He kills him after a short argument, fulfilling the first fraction of the prophecy. However, Oedipus is a clean slate as far as his biological relationship with King Laius is concerned. After landing his destination in Thebes, Oedipus realizes a place plagued by the Sphinx. He confidently slays the monster and redeems Thebes from its curse. The reward for killing the monster is announced as the kingdom of Thebes, plus the widowed Queen as a wife. This means that Oedipus is to marry Queen Jocasta and start ruling the Kingdom as the new king. The young man accidentally marries his biological mother and gives birth to her. This fulfills the second fraction of the prophecy. When Oedipus and his mother discover what have done, they are too bitter with themselves. They cannot afford to forgive themselves. King Oedipus blinds himself and Queen Jocasta, his mother hangs herself.

Oedipus King of Movies is a thought-provoking film to those who are more familiar with aesthetic approaches. Pasolini requires viewers to open their eyes unto the world and see ahead of time. Like Oedipus, human beings have to go through hardships in life. It is better to deal with challenges confidently, rather than moving away from them. We might not always get what we expect after a good job. However, we have to accept and move on with life. The film is well acted and technologically accomplished. Director’s approach and materials used are technically combined to reveal themes and characters.

In conclusion, Oedipus the King of Movies is an interesting film of adaptation and drama genre which runs for one hour thirty-seven minutes. It was published on seventh December 1968. Oedipus is the main character who is born by King Laius and Queen Jocasta. His father abandons him to die in the wilderness but is saved by a shepherd who takes him to King Polybus and Queen Merope for adoption. Edipo receives a prophecy to kill his father and marry his mother. The prophecy is fulfilled and he blinds himself when the mother kills herself. This was a personal revenge done by a mother and a son after an accidental action.