Antigone (1961)

In the aftermath of a bloody civil war that pitted brother against brother, the King of Thebes (Manos Katrakis) decrees that one brother be buried with honor while the other brother is refused a burial for having led an insurrection. The sister (Irene Papas) of both brothers goes against the King's order and buries her dishonored brother for which the penalty is death. Based on the classic tragedy by Sophocles and directed by George Tzavellas. The great Greek actress Irene Papas is perhaps Greece's greatest tragedienne. Her work in the Greek classics for director Michael Cacoyannis is exemplary: ELECTRA, IPHIGENIA, THE TROJAN WOMEN. Cacoyannis didn't direct ANTIGONE but Papas' performance ranks with her work in the Cacoyannis movies. Tzavellas keeps closely to the Sophocles' play (except for the ending) and doesn't go overboard in trying to make it cinematic. Filmed in stark B&W by Dinos Katsouridis, the cinematography is rich in mood and atmosphere. With Maro Kontou and Nikos Kazis.