The Radiance Blu-ray extras are a major draw, beginning with a substantial new 25-minute interview with Greek film expert Dimitris Papanikolaou (filmed October 2025) - author of Greek Weird Wave: A Cinema of Biopolitics, who provides insightful context on Cacoyannis's career, his Euripides adaptations, and the film's enduring legacy. This is complemented by two valuable archival pieces: an 11-minute press conference from the 1977 Cannes Film Festival capturing Cacoyannis fielding questions amid the film's Palme d'Or competition, and a 6-minute excerpt from a French TV special featuring Cacoyannis and Irene Papas discussing their collaboration. A reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork (by Time Tomorrow,) plus a limited edition booklet with new writing by Vrasidas Karalis (The Cinematic Language of Theo Angelopoulos,) round out the package. By contrast, the Olive Films Blu-ray was entirely bare-bones with no supplements whatsoever, making Radiance's thoughtful curation a decisive advantage for fans seeking deeper appreciation.

Michael Cacoyannis's Iphigenia stands as the culminating masterpiece of his acclaimed trilogy of Euripides adaptations, following Elektra (1962) and The Trojan Women (1971). A faithful yet cinematic reimagining of Iphigenia at Aulis, the film transforms the ancient Greek tragedy into a visually majestic and psychologically piercing anti-war statement, emphasizing the human cost of collective ambition and patriarchal authority. Cacoyannis, working in his native Greek with a cast led by Irene Papas, strips the play to its emotional core while expanding its scope through epic cinematography, creating a work that feels both timeless and urgently modern in its critique of leadership, sacrifice, and the machinery of war. The narrative centers on the Greek fleet stranded at Aulis, unable to sail for Troy due to divine wrath from Artemis. Agamemnon (Kostas Kazakos), pressured by his brother Menelaus and the restless army, receives an oracle demanding the sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia (Tatiana Papamoschou). Lured to the camp under the pretense of marriage to Achilles, Iphigenia arrives with her mother Clytemnestra (Irene Papas - Zorba the Greek, Guns of Navarone, Z, Anne of the Thousand Days, The Message,) setting off a devastating confrontation between personal love and public duty. Cacoyannis preserves Euripides' structure - debates, deceptions, and shifting resolutions - while subtly modernizing the psychology: Agamemnon's torment feels like that of a contemporary politician trapped by his own rhetoric. At its heart, Iphigenia interrogates the moral bankruptcy of war. The becalmed fleet symbolizes stagnation born of hubris, while the vast army - thousands of extras sprawled across sun-blasted beaches - becomes a faceless, animalistic force that devours individuals. Cacoyannis repeatedly contrasts intimate human suffering with impersonal masses: close-ups of anguished faces against endless ranks of soldiers. The film's most potent symbolism revolves around the deer - Artemis's sacred animal whose killing triggers the crisis - mirroring Iphigenia's innocence. Radiance Films' limited edition Blu-ray of Iphigenia is the definitive home video release, offering a beautiful high-definition presentation that matches or subtly surpasses the already respectable 2016 Olive Films transfer, superior uncompressed audio, and - most importantly - a wealth of meaningful extras that illuminate Cacoyannis's masterpiece in ways the bare-bones Olive never attempted. For admirers of Greek cinema, Euripides adaptations, or Irene Papas's towering performance, this Radiance Films' Blu-ray is an essential upgrade and a worthy celebration of a timeless tragedy.

***

ADDITION: Olive Films - Region 'A' - Blu-ray May 16': The Blu-ray superiority is evident (richer contrast, deeper colors, tighter detail etc.) but the DVD was strong so it is not as dramatic as we have seen. There is a sliver more information on the top edge of the 1080P. Audio gets a solid upgrade as well - DTS-HD Master (24-bit) in the original Greek language. The score is by Mikis Theodorakis and is supports the film well. It is pristinely clean and rises and falls with the film's drama. There are optional English subtitles and no extras at all.

The bare-bones Olive Blu-ray disc has plenty of value with the film and the solid a/v transfer. If you haven't seen it - then this get a very strong recommendation!

***

ON THE DVD: The MGM image shows some strong detail at times and it doesn't appear to have had any significant digital manipulations. MGM have, surprisingly, maintained the allusive 1.66 aspect ratio in a clean, anamorphic, progressive and dual-layered transfer. In testing I had some issues with turning off the subtitles - offered in English, Spanish or French. Audio was clear and there is a Spanish DUB available.

There are zero extra features. Cacoyannis (or 'Kakogiannis') builds a very realistic film and from that standpoint I was very attentive in my viewing.  He certainly captured the historic timeframe very well - in a unique fashion. I can't say the film is for everyone but I was quite getting into it. Interesting and quite different from the other Cacoyannis' works I have seen (Stella and A Matter of Dignity - both available on DVD). It is refreshing to see MGM treat world cinema with healthy transfers.   

Gary W. Tooze