rmsing45 Review of Kravgi gynaikon

Kravgi gynaikon (1978)

A most powerful film about the actor's creative process

[10/10 · 9 March 2006]

This is a powerful film on many levels. While documenting a re-staging of the Medea story, it contrasts its original 2500-year-old story with a surprising modern parallel story. The film enlivens these two stories by exploring the complex relationships among the principal characters. Anyone interested in an actor's creative process of research and rehearsal will find this film most compelling since it shows the development of the character of Medea not only through traditional classic methods, but surprisingly by showing how unique research and a modern approach to character development — less is more — can leave an audience breathless. The title alludes to Hamlet's mussing soliloquy about the Principal Player's commitment to performing Hecuba. The film is filled with visually memorable moments in the ancient Greek Theatre at Epidauros together with stunning moments of movie camera magic.