Homer’s Iliad, filmed at the ruins of ancient Troy (Turkey): seven women and seven men are telling and playing the story of Achilleus’ anger, speaking exclusively Homer’s verses and epic shows its cinematic quality: surrealistic, emotional, authentical. The film creates an up-to-date image of the (agnostic) Ancient World: the protagonists appeare as artificial, futuristic beings –colourful, lively and lyrical. The story of Achilleus’ anger is spoken exclusively in Homer’s verses; their musicality and the emotional play of the protagonists are mastering the coherence between film and epos. Especially the women are making the story become a great one.
It’s the first film of director Merkle and his company “Dramatisches Theater”. He and his dramaturg Antje Borchardt were working on Greek mythology and Homer’s Iliad for years, mostly in theatre projects. The actors spent months on practising, understanding and feeling the meaning of Homer’s verses –a necessary and delighting preparation for the successful shooting.
- Direction: MATTHIAS MERKLE
- Production: DRAMATISCHES THEATER
