Agora (2009/Lionsgate DVD)
Picture: B- Sound: C+ Extras: A Film: A-
Alexandria, one of greatest city of the
ancient world, a time when culture, knowledge, religion were allowed to
flourish. Great minds were brought
together from the far reaches of the known world, and in the center was
Hypatia. Teacher, philosopher,
mathematician, and astrologer, but society is ever changing and Alexandria was no
exception, a political religious change was on the verge. Hypatia, her students, their world will
be forever changed in Agora...
Hypatia, one of the earliest know woman to challenge a person's role in
society. The 'Agora' is a Greek word for
an open market place where people were free to trade, express, discuss
ideas, thoughts, goods and beliefs, few cultures ever had this luxury. It was here Hypatia taught her various
students about the world, philosophy, reason, logic and the natural patterns of
the universe, above all an open mind to discover and accept the truth. However her truth would be tested, the bond
between teacher and student would either bend or break as a religious
uprising took the city by storm... Christianity.
This was a great film, though a drama historical fiction, the person Hypatia
really existed. Excellent costumes, designs
and setting. The main character Hypatia
though a woman in ancient times, her logic, reasoning, and philosophy she
was considered far ahead of her time and of the society she lived in.
She had correct ideas and theories about
natural patterns of the universe, but unfortunately was unable to be proven
until later by mathematicians hundreds of years after her death. Alexandria
was on the decline, it had two flaws, a society based on slaves, and a new
religion which appealed and converted the slaves in which the city depended on,
a rebellion was inevitable.
Ironically, the slaves who sought freedom through
Christianity became the ones blind to the truth, and the story of learning
which Hypatia stood for became a story of tragedy. She became the sacrificial lamb for the
religious zealots when she did not convert and they wanted to silence her
voice. Extras include director's
commentary, documentary of Alexandria,
deleted scenes, storyboards and photo gallery.
- Ricky Chiang
