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
4) Medea - Murderous Love
On his quest to find the Golden Fleece, Jason asked the cruel King of Colchis and his daughter Medea, a powerful sorceress, for help. Medea fell in love with Jason, helped him to find the precious Fleece, and fled with him.
Numerous adventures and misfortunes stemmed from this passionate encounter, and poor Medea seemed to be at the origin of them. The two young lovers took refuge in Greece, got married, and Medea gave birth to two children. But one day, Jason succumbed to the call of power. He rejected Medea, and married the daughter of the King of Corinth. Alone and sorrowful, Medea planned a terrible revenge that devastated the man she loved with a destructive passion.
