Medea (1969 film)

Medea
Directed by	Pier Paolo Pasolini
Written by	Pier Paolo Pasolini
Based on	Medea by Euripides
Produced by	Franco Rossellini
Starring	Maria Callas Massimo Girotti Giuseppe Gentile Laurent Terzieff
Cinematography	Ennio Guarnieri
Edited by	Nino Baragli
Music by	Pier Paolo Pasolini Elsa Morante
Release date	1969 (1969)
Running time	106 minutes
Countries	Italy France West Germany
Language	Italian

Medea is a 1969 Italian film written and directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, based on the ancient myth of Medea. The film stars opera singer Maria Callas in her only film role and is largely a faithful portrayal of the myth of Jason and the Argonauts and the events of Euripides' play Medea.

The film was received positively by critics but did not receive commercial success. According to film commentator Tony Rayns the film represents a committedly adversarial piece of art from the director who loved to challenge society. Rayns calls the film "a love song to Maria Callas" and describes the ending as "backing him (Pasolini) into a cul-de-sac" for the dark ending of the film which almost seems like a resignation from cultural production.^[1] Indeed, Pasolini's dramatic and adverse personality is very much alive in this film which depicts Medea's murder of her husband, children and her husband's lover.