Directed by:
Alejandro AmenábarCinematography:
Xavi GiménezComposer:
Dario MarianelliCast:
Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom, Michael Lonsdale, Rupert Evans, Homayoun Ershadi, Richard Durden, Yousef 'Joe' Sweid, George Harris (more)Plots(1)
4th century A.D. Egypt under the Roman Empire… Violent religious upheaval in the streets of Alexandria spills over into the city’s famous Library. Trapped inside its walls, the brilliant astronomer Hypatia and her disciples fight to save the wisdom of the Ancient World… Among them, the two men competing for her heart: the witty, privileged Orestes and Davus, Hypatia’s young slave, who is torn between his secret love for her and the freedom he knows can be his if he chooses to join the unstoppable surge of the Christians. (Transmission Films)
(more)Reviews (11)
The course of history sometimes takes sad directions, where in certain situations we have to wait 1,200 years to rediscover things. And yet, even after so many experiences, we are not able to think better of it and learn. This is a producer suicide and one mirror elegantly set to today’s Islam on how faith, so necessary for many, can easily be swept down a path of fanaticism that knows no bounds, nor respect.
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Quite possibly the best film by Alejandro Amenábar and a great serving of history from ancient Alexandria with the beautiful Rachel Weisz to boot. Very nicely shot, with some gritty scenes of people being stoned alive, nicely narrated, clearly told and rich in religion. There aren't many great historical films and I appreciate every one. Great. 85%.
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I’m satisfied. From the smart, witty story and from Amenábar's directorial concept, which does not pander to the taste of the ordinary viewer. Plus, I have a soft spot for strong female characters, which Hypatia undoubtedly was; a wise woman, eager to learn and explore, a strong and independent person. I bet it was a pleasure for Rachel Weisz to play a role like that. The clever script outlines many interesting historical aspects: the twilight of the Roman Empire, religious obscurantism, the beginnings of blood feuds between the early Christians and Jews, and also interestingly outlines contemporary thinking about our solar system – the theory of Ptolemy and the heliocentric view held by Aristarchus. Amenábar has delivered a though-provoking historical movie here.
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A beautiful historical film set in late antiquity Alexandria, featuring my beloved Rachel Weisz. The quality was a very pleasant surprise and the courage to show certain things full-on was also a shock. The world is still full of lunatics and if I were the godless Amenábar, I’d watch out very carefully for any stone flying in my direction.
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Agora is a splendid example of the combination of great technical execution and convincing performances. At the forefront of the plot is a great woman of her time, who lived by philosophy and her own faith, to which she was able to give everything. Another "actor" in this historical story is the timeless theme of religion, which has managed to unite and divide people since ancient times, and which still persists. It pits love, which is stronger than any faith, against fear, which is often even more powerful. Rachel Weisz is great as Hypatia and convincing, as are the other actors. The film is accompanied by an irresistible musical score and we can follow the entire story through amnazing cinematography, which drew me in even deeper as a viewer. In short, Agora is a perfect film in almost every way, one that managed to captivate me with its storyline and execution, which is the most important thing for me.
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