Oedipus Mayor
Oedipus Mayor (Spanish: Edipo alcalde) is a 1996 Colombian tragedy film, produced by Tomás Zapata and Jorge Sánchez, directed by Jorge Alí Triana.[1] Set in strife-ridden, 20th-century Colombia, the film is a modern-day interpretation of Sophocles' classical Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex. The film was selected as the Colombian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 69th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[2][3]
Oedipus Mayor | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Jorge Alí Triana |
Produced by | Jorge Sánchez Tomás Zapata |
Screenplay by | Gabriel García Márquez Stella Malagon |
Based on | Oedipus Rex by Sophocles |
Starring | Jorge Perugorria Ángela Molina Francisco Rabal Jairo Camargo |
Music by | Blas Emilio Atehortúa |
Cinematography | Rodrigo Prieto |
Edited by | Sigfrido Barjau |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
Country | Colombia |
Language | Spanish |
Plot
Set amidst the rebel wars (representing the Theban plagues) of contemporary Colombia, young Mayor Edipo must mediate a peace deal between conflicting guerrilla groups and the army. It is raining when he leaves. His journey is interrupted when he gets into a shoot-out on a lonely bridge. Returning fire, Edipo somehow escapes. As soon as he gets to town he hears that a prominent leader Layo was brutally slain. No one knows who shot him. Meanwhile, a blind coffin-maker Tiresias wanders town making dire prophecies concerning Edipo's future. It is he who tells the mayor that Layo was murdered by a family member. Edipo's fate is sealed when he gets involved with the beautiful and much older Yocasta, a woman who last had sex thirty years before with her husband Layo. She got pregnant and bore a son ... tragedy ensues.
Cast
- Jorge Perugorria - Edipo
- Ángela Molina - Yocasta
- Francisco Rabal - Tiresias
- Jairo Camargo - Creonte
- Jorge Martínez de Hoyos - Priest
- Miriam Colón - Deyanira
- Juan Sebastián Aragón - Police Commander
- Armando Gutiérrez - Army Captain
- Marcela Agudelo -
- Fabiana Medina - Guerrilla Child
- Juan Carlos Arango - AUC Commander
- Magali Caicedo
- Manuel José Chávez - Guerrilla Child
- Sigifredo Vega
- Alfonso Ortiz - Landowners
- Héctor Rivas
- Andrés Felipe Martínez
- Raúl Santa
- Salomón Vega
- Jaime Forero
- Carlos Vega
See also
References
- "Oedipus Mayor". NY Times. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- "39 Countries Hoping for Oscar Nominations". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 13 November 1996. Archived from the original on 9 February 1999. Retrieved 5 October 2015.