An adaptation of Sophocles’ masterpiece Antigone, Antonio D'Alfonso’s film script tells of a young woman who defies her uncle, the king’s decree that no-one is to bury her dead brother. For 2500 years Sophocles’ tragic story of war, betrayal, and love has sparked the imagination of artists from generation to generation. Poems, novels, plays, interpretations, and films have paid tribute to this evocative allegoric tale of a sister’s loyalty and courage. Antonio D’Alfonso’s cinematic rework draws illuminating parallels between ancient and contemporary society, offering us a postmodern retelling updated and brought to the film screen as a story of crime and redemption in Toronto. Shot in three languages (Italian, French and English), there are few films like it in Canadian filmmaking. A study of a virtuous heroine who defies implacable authority, D’Alfonso’s reimagining of the Greek classic roars with power — and dares us to choose between our personal values and those of the world in which we live. One of drama’s most compelling heroines, Antigone accepts her fate with fearless grace. In an enlightened tradition of auteur filmmaking, Antonio D’Alfonso has forged a dark and demanding film of broad, poetic appeal.

Antonio D'Alfonso was born in Montreal. He studied at Loyola College from 1970 to 1975, where he got his B.A. in Communication Arts. Later on he went to Université de Montréal to complete his Master's Science Degree in Communication Studies, specializing in Semiology; his thesis was on Mouchette, a film by Robert Bresson. In 1978 he founded Guernica Editions, where he edited over 450 books by authors from around the world. In 1982 along with three other writers, he founds the trilingual magazine, Vice Versa. In 1986, along with three other writers, he founded the Association of Italian-Canadian writers. He has taught at Université of Montréal, Continuing Studies at University of Toronto, University of Californa, in San Diego. He is presently a writer in residence at McGill University (French language and literature department).

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