Szerelmem, Elektra

About

Electra, My Love (Szerelmem, Elektra) is a 1974 Hungarian drama film directed by Miklós Jancsó. It was included in the official selection for the 1975 Cannes Film Festival. Like most of Jancsó's films, this one uses extremely long takes, often as long as the camera would allow without stopping because of the film stock finishing. The entire 70 minute duration is covered by just twelve takes. The story is set in an archaic and mythical world in which a tyrant faces rebellion by the down-trodden. It is based on a play by László Gyurkó which premiered in Budapest in 1968, and which itself reinterpreted the Greek myth of Electra. Electra, My Love reimagines the ancient Greek myth of Electra as a powerful political allegory. Fifteen years after the murder of her father, Agamemnon, Electra lives under the rule of the tyrant Aegisthus, who seized the throne and keeps her under constant humiliation, even forcing her into marriage with a dwarf. Consumed by the desire for justice, she waits for the return of her brother, Orestes. Disguised as a messenger announcing his own death, Orestes secretly returns, and together the siblings inspire the people to rise against Aegisthus. After capturing and executing the tyrant, they bring an end to his oppressive rule. The film transforms the classic tale of revenge into a meditation on tyranny, revolution, and liberation. Its startling conclusion, in which Electra and Orestes depart in a red helicopter, deliberately introduces modern imagery into the ancient story, suggesting that the struggle against oppression remains relevant across centuries. By connecting Greek mythology with contemporary political concerns, the film presents its themes as timeless rather than confined to a single historical era.

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