Commenting on the arrest of film director Matthias Langhoff and his entire crew for attempting to shoot nude scenes at the ancient theater of Epidaurus on September 18, Culture Minister Costas Tassoulas told private Mega TV on Tuesday that the German director had gotten permission to film some scenes, but not the specific ones.
“He did more than he said he would do” said Mr. Costas Tassoulas referring to the famous German director who is currently filming a documentary on his life and career, which will be screened in the context of his next theater production.
For this purpose, Langhoff had asked and received permission to shoot a dialogue scene featuring him and another artist at the theater of Epidaurus and a scene featuring two other people, at the sanctuary of Asclepios.
However, the scene he had in mind to film was quite different. At some point during the filming, a guard spotted a 32-year-old Chilean actress from the crew running around naked in the ancient theater and called the police.
Greece is no stranger to the famous German director’s provocative work. Back in 1997, Matthias Langhoff had staged Euripides’ Bacchae in Epidaurus and was again accused of “insulting” the theater by having the Greek actor Minas Hatzisavvas appear naked as Dionysus, surrounded by dead animals.