Of Blood, of Pleasure and of Death
Of Blood, of Pleasure and of Death
The trilogy 'Of Blood, of Pleasure and of Death' (1947-1948), which began with Psyche (1947), the first film, produced by Gregory Markopoulos in 16mm, based on an unfinished novel by Pierre Louÿs, is completed with Lysis and Charmides, both based on Platonic dialogues. Addressing themes of homosexuality, these three films illustrate a symbolic use of colour and composition. (Centre Pompidou)

Psyche (1948)

29 May, 1948
Psyche 1947, made while a student at USC, shows Markopoulos’ developing style and his sensuous use of colour and composition. Shot in the Hollywood hills, the film was inspired by an unfinished novella by Pierre Louÿs. - Tate Modern

Lysis (1949)

20 June, 1949
Markopoulos called Lysis “a study in stream-of-consciousness poetry of a lost, wandering, homosexual soul” and felt that the film foreshadowed The Illiac Passion.

Charmides (1949)

25 June, 1949
Based on Plato's dialogue Charmides.