This is a very powerful mix of concepts. Oposed poles, interacting, afecting one another, and us, spectators, in the process.
It all stems, i believe, from the core obsessions of Kazantzakis, his religious anguish, his desire to place god in his world.
So, we have an uptight, bookish englishman, opposed to a being of passion, a man who sometimes is so full he must dance. Reflected life vs spur of the moment.
Two men, in Crete, in a relation with two women. One, the widow, aware of her place in a world where happiness is not meant for her. The other, also a widow of sorts, engaging in a number of relations, always trying to find the next, definite one. Both women are broken, both end tragically (as opposed to the men, whose failure and failed relation will give them the strength to a new, unknown journey).
Place it in a rural christian environment, where religion not only matters but is, indeed, the rule. Heaven and earth, Water and wine (the water to wine bit is the funniest in the film, placed in a truly christian worldview).
The sense of senseless purpose is visually represented by the failed attempt to bring the trees down the mountain (a process carefully sketched, modelled and thought over by Zorba throughout the film). Failure is rebirth, the result never mattered anyway, the mine is just a McGuffin.
The widow's murder, stark and rough, in the middle of an otherwise light drama/comedy film, has a lot of power and is one the most violent scenes i've ever seen.
It all stems, i believe, from the core obsessions of Kazantzakis, his religious anguish, his desire to place god in his world.
So, we have an uptight, bookish englishman, opposed to a being of passion, a man who sometimes is so full he must dance. Reflected life vs spur of the moment.
Two men, in Crete, in a relation with two women. One, the widow, aware of her place in a world where happiness is not meant for her. The other, also a widow of sorts, engaging in a number of relations, always trying to find the next, definite one. Both women are broken, both end tragically (as opposed to the men, whose failure and failed relation will give them the strength to a new, unknown journey).
Place it in a rural christian environment, where religion not only matters but is, indeed, the rule. Heaven and earth, Water and wine (the water to wine bit is the funniest in the film, placed in a truly christian worldview).
The sense of senseless purpose is visually represented by the failed attempt to bring the trees down the mountain (a process carefully sketched, modelled and thought over by Zorba throughout the film). Failure is rebirth, the result never mattered anyway, the mine is just a McGuffin.
The widow's murder, stark and rough, in the middle of an otherwise light drama/comedy film, has a lot of power and is one the most violent scenes i've ever seen.