Lars von Trier - Medea (1988)

Lars von Trier´s direction makes this film a shocking look into the disturbed mind of a woman who has been scorned and left. Medea´s revenge is horrible but never unbelievable. She does what every sane person would do, when deprived of all that she loves. The film burns itself into your mind and leaves you with a lasting impression of what human misery can be like.





Drama / SINOPSIS: Adaptación de la célebre tragedia griega que Lars Von Trier dirigió para televisión, sirviéndose de un guión adaptado por Carl Theodor Dreyer, quien nunca pudo rodarlo en vida. La historia mitológica se centra en lo acaecido después de la expedición de Jasón y los Argonautas. Tras años de amor y felicidad, Jasón pretende abandonar a Medea y sus hijos para casarse con Glauce, la hija del rey Creonte. Cuando el rey decide expulsar a Medea, ésta urde un perverso plan de venganza. (FILMAFFINITY)





Brilliant expose' and depiction of the classical Greek play. I never had any feeling of sympathy for the character of Medea. I always found her murderous rage against her husband reprehensible. No hatred or anger can justify murdering one's own children. But for the first time, I felt a sadness and compassion towards Medea. Lar Triers treatment and subsequent rendition of Medea's plight made me think of her more than just as a "woman scorned" and I finally understood what moved her to this sacrilegious act of infanticide. Jason was her entire life and the one that she should have killed. So in his absence, she slew his progeny. She wanted to wipe any trace of him from the earth and from her heart. So she destroyed everything at once including herself. There would never be any chance of returning after this unforgivable act.

This is the definitive Medea. Lars Triers deserves praise for bringing this tragedy into focus. For making Medea human instead of a monster he deserves our gratitude.