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Fantasy drama

Medea (1969): Cast, Box Office & Plot

Medea (1969) movie poster

Medea is a 1969 fantasy drama directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, starring Maria Callas as Medea, Rita Savagnone and Pino Colizzi. It is based on Medea and Other Plays by Euripides and John Davie. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $689 worldwide.

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Medea (1969) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 58m (118 min)
Director
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Genres
Fantasy , Drama
Original language
Italian
Studio
Les Films Number One
Based on
Medea and Other Plays by Euripides and John Davie
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Medea About?

The premise of Medea without spoilers, adapted from Medea and Other Plays by Euripides and John Davie. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

The film follows Medea, a foreign woman in ancient Greece whose status is jeopardized when her husband Jason abandons her for another woman. In a blaze of vengeance she murders her own children, kills her brother, and burns her rival, embodying the tragic fury of Euripides’ classic tale. Maria Callas delivers a powerful performance.

Medea Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • boy frontal nudity
  • young nudity
  • explicit male nudity
  • nude young male
  • nudity
  • female nudity
  • male nudity
  • double child murder
  • character name as title
  • child in jeopardy
  • murder of a child
  • child
+38 more
  • medea character
  • creon character
  • jason character
  • escape
  • tragedy drama
  • supernatural fantasy
  • female protagonist
  • female body
  • existential loneliness
  • king
  • greece
  • murder
  • human sacrifice
  • cult film
  • bathing a child
  • anachronism
  • lullaby
  • love
  • death
  • pantheism
  • marxism
  • greek tragedy
  • tragedy
  • foreign language adaptation
  • bronze age
  • crucifixion
  • cannibalism
  • filicide
  • mythology
  • sex
  • centaur
  • dead children
  • cut into pieces
  • heart in hand
  • child sacrifice
  • child murderess
  • neck breaking
  • blood
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Cast & crew

Medea Cast & Characters

Maria Callas leads the cast as Medea, with Rita Savagnone as Voice Dubbing: Maria Callas / Medea (voice) (uncredited) and Pino Colizzi as Voice Dubbing: Giuseppe Gentile / Jason (voice) (uncredited). Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini; 26 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Medea

· 22 more
Show all 26 cast members
From the director

More from Pier Paolo Pasolini

More films directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini: Arabian Nights, December 12th, Pigsty and The Sequence of the Paper Flower.

Full filmography
Plot

Medea Plot Summary

What happens in Medea from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the city of Iolcus, King Aeson is overthrown by his half-brother Pelias, who becomes a cruel tyrant who hoards power and fear. Giasone, Aeson’s son, is hidden away by the wise Chirone to keep him safe from Pelias’ reach, and under Chirone’s guidance he learns about the wider world while hearing of a legendary voyage to Colchis, where the Golden Fleece of Ares is kept. As time passes, Giasone grows, returns to Iolcus, and challenges Pelias for the throne, though Pelias makes a dangerous bargain: the throne in exchange for retrieving the fleece from the faraway land.

Full summary

The whole story of Medea, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Medea Box Office

Medea grossed $689 worldwide.

1969 box office

Worldwide gross

$689

Videos

Medea Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Medea.

Medea (1969) Original Trailer [FHD]
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Medea?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the hero that embarks on the quest for the Golden Fleece?
Details

Medea Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “Medeia - A Feiticeira do Amor” and “Medée”.

Also known as
  • Medeia - A Feiticeira do Amor
  • Medée
  • Медея
  • Mēdeja
  • 王女メディア
  • Médée
  • Medeia
  • Médea
  • Μηδεία
  • 메데아
  • 美狄亚
  • Medéia, a Feiticeira do Amor, მედეა

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FAQ

Medea FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, the book behind it, post-credit scenes and language of Medea, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Medea?

Medea runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).

When was Medea released?

Medea was released on December 28, 1969.

Who directed Medea?

Medea was directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini.

More films by Pier Paolo Pasolini

Who is in the cast of Medea?

Medea stars Maria Callas as Medea, Rita Savagnone as Voice Dubbing: Maria Callas / Medea (voice) (uncredited) and Pino Colizzi as Voice Dubbing: Giuseppe Gentile / Jason (voice) (uncredited), among 26 credited actors.

How much did Medea make at the box office?

Medea grossed $689 worldwide.

Is Medea based on a book?

Yes. Medea is adapted from Medea and Other Plays by Euripides, John Davie and Richard Rutherford.

Does Medea have a post-credit scene?

No. Medea has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Medea in?

The original language of Medea is Italian.

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