Director, Crew Held over Greek Nude Scene
A German avant-garde director and his crew spent a night in police custody over a racy nude scene shot in one of Greece's top monuments, a culture ministry source said on Friday.
Matthias Langhoff, 73, a naturalized French citizen, ran afoul of authorities whilst filming in the ancient theatre of Epidaurus in the Peloponnese late on Wednesday.
Site guards intervened after midnight when one of the actresses disrobed and, according to reports, began simulating a sex act in the stands.
"A case has been opened by the police, on the charge of insulting a sacred site," a culture ministry source told AFP.
The official added that Langhoff had secured the necessary permission in July to film in the ancient theatre after visiting hours, but the nude scene was not part of the script he submitted to authorities.
"Permission was given for a documentary on the director's life. The organisers had pledged to respect the site," the ministry official said.
Another source with knowledge of the incident said the organisers spent the night in police detention in the town of Nafplio until the case could be processed, and were released on Thursday.
Greece imposes strict rules on the use of its archaeological sites and frequently rejects filming and advertising requests.
Langhoff had alarmed the audience at Epidaurus in 1997 with a production of Euripides' Bacchae in which an actor appeared nude on stage.
Source: Agence France Presse
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