Retrospective Film Review

Black Orpheus (1959) • 65 Years Later — the Greek myth and controversial film that won the Palme d’Or

A retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, set during the time of the Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro.

In the ancient Greek myth, Orpheus and Eurydice were deeply in love. Given a lyre by Apollo, Orpheus could play his instrument so wonderfully that nothing in the world could resist his mellifluous melodies. Meanwhile, Eurydice was known to be one of the most beautiful women in all the land, and was often found walking through the woods amongst the forest nymphs. But tragedy soon struck: a snake bit Eurydice, killing her instantly.

Orpheus was so devastated by the loss that he resolved to rescue her from death itself. Travelling into the underworld, he traversed the River Styx and lulled Cerberus to sleep, right before singing Hades a song on his lyre. Even the God of the Dead was moved: he promised Orpheus that Eurydice would follow him back to the land of the living, if he could only restrain himself from looking back at her. Our hero agreed, but…