Arts, History Documentary hosted by Francois Busnel, published by Arte in 2015 - English narration
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Tales of love, sex, power, betrayal, heinous crimes, unbearable separations, atrocious revenge, and metamorphoses - the poetic force of the myths has crossed the centuries. This series sets out to recount these ancient stories using animations created especially for the occasion, and illustrations chosen from the entire history of art.
The Great Myths are superhero stories as much as they are metaphysical compendiums, psychological novels as well as scathing thrillers. They allow us to grasp a feeling, an emotion, a madness. They represent the secret - but essential - part of our societies. They depict the inner conflicts that consume human, all too human men and gods.
It's all there: love, death, sexuality, war, jealousy, betrayal, the will to power, happiness, mourning, curse, suicide, sacrifice, fault, transgression, self-sacrifice. The Great Myths illuminate a world where the points of reference are confused. The Greeks, by telling these great myths, invented suspense at the same time as poetry, tragedy and philosophy. Socrates is right when he summons Zeus and Olympians to help ordinary mortals to think better. There is irony, comedy, hope and despair. Life, in short. Everything is tragic, everything is poetic, everything is philosophical: such is the mantra of the Greeks, the masterful lesson they offer us.
Great Greek Myths takes us on a captivating exploration of Greek mythology and its original stories, based on the oldest texts, the destinies of Zeus, Theseus, Aphrodite, Orpheus... A stroll to the heart of Greek myths and its heroes, whose poetic force and universal scope have nourished the imagination of artists over the centuries. The series invites you on a journey through museums around the world, to discover these inspired works of art, illustrated by the masterpieces of Botticelli, Picasso, Munch, Klimt and many others.
Series Director: Sylvain Bergere ; A Co-Production by ARTE France, Rosebud Productions and Les Monstres
3) Orpheus - An Hymn of Impossible Love
On certain evenings, the constellation of Lyra is visible in the skies. Following Orpheus' death, Zeus placed the constellation in the sky, as a tribute to the greatest poet and musician in Greek mythology.
Watched over by the muses from birth, Orpheus' talent enchanted nature, both trees and animals alike. A brave young man, Orpheus left with Jason's crew on board the Argo, to conquer the Golden Fleece. But what poets and artists remembered most about the myth of Orpheus was his passionate love story with the beautiful Eurydice. Having been bitten by a snake, Eurydice was condemned to join the kingdom of the dead. A distraught Orpheus followed her, and thanks to his lyre, managed to convince the Couple of the Underworld, Hades and Persephone, to give him back his wife. They accepted on one condition: that Orpheus should leave the Underworld followed by Eurydice, but that on no account should he turn round to look at her. An ordeal like no other.
