Vaincre à Olympie (1977)

In the era before Christ, in ancient Greece before Pericles, the young ephebe Sostratos, who is preparing for the next Olympic Games, is the object of genuine devotion from the inhabitants of his hometown of Sicyon, who admire his physical beauty and boxing prowess. As he preens among his admirers, an enigmatic traveler who has just arrived in town and calls himself Menestheus criticizes the flattery of the young athlete’s entourage, which can only harm his future achievements. Though older, Menestheus offers him this challenge: “If I can beat the boy at arm wrestling, he must follow me; otherwise, I will leave the village and never return.” Though affronted, the proud Sostratos, intrigued by this authoritative old man, accepts the match and, as expected, loses. Together, they climb the hill where the sanctuary of Asclepius, the healing god, and a statue of Granianos, Sicyon’s five-time Olympic champion, stand. Settling there, Menestheus takes on the role of a kind of bard (poet) and tells Sostratos, to kindle his ambitions, the instructive story of Euthymos of Locri, another Olympic boxing champion (the sport now known as boxing). At 18, still a young athlete with boundless ambition, Euthymos was captivated by the mysterious, beautiful, sensual Pasithea, who was the lover of the sculptor Eukheiros. This liaison brought him into conflict with his lover Herodore, a charismatic sophist who had once flattered him and now cursed him. Euthymos was completely bewitched by the young woman, who threatened to kill him if he left her. But one day, Euthymos discovered that Pasithea and Herodore were lovers. To help him forget this ordeal and keep him away from these new enemies, the sculptor Eukheiros, though betrayed twice himself and bearing no grudge, strongly advised Euthymos to leave this bewitching she-devil. He offered him the chance to follow Milon of Croton, an aliptes (a man who rubbed athletes with oil), who would take him far from this filth and prepare him properly for the Olympic Games. Euthymos began an extremely rigorous training regimen with him, intended to lead him to victory. Before competing in the Games, Euthymos fell in love with the young and pure Cymothoë. When it was time to depart for mythical Olympia, he promised her that he would still love her when he returned.