"The Trojan Women"--A Film Review

Paper Summary:

This film review describes the challenges of translating the medium of Euripides' ancient Greek drama "Trojan Women" into cinematic technique. The paper explores how Michael Cacoyannis did this in his 1971 adaptation of the Greek tragedy. One method Cacoyannis used was using familiar character archetypes or actors to generate immediate interest in the plot. He also chose famous actresses to star in the film. The reviewer offers his own critique of the film, concluding that rather than making Euripides more intimate, the film only created a wider divide between the great Greek tragedian's world and today's.

From the Paper:

"The characters endure very extreme situations, like having their child murdered by Greek soldiers or being forced to become concubines. However, the long, formal speeches that dominate the screenplay, no matter how well-delivered, do not convey a sense of reality. Even close-ups of the women's contorted wailing faces do not stimulate empathy in the heart of the viewer. The advantages of film as a medium, as opposed to the stage, might be defined as being able to convey emotion without a great deal of hysteria, as might be seen in 'real life.' However, Euripides' play did not attempt to convey a realistic portrayal of life, but show a myth on an epic scale."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "The Trojan Woman." Directed by Michael Cacoyannis. 1971.

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