I mean, come on! Agora was nominated for 13 Goya Award, and won 7 of them. It was screened out of competition for the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, and it talked about the 4th CE Egypt without the usual swords and gladiator-style debacles. Well, okay, it eventually ended up with a riot that killed my new fave heroine mathematician-astronomer-librarian Hypatia (played by Rachel Weisz, excellently I believe), but still, it is favoured by many and it's not screened in Australia yet?!?!Okay, okay, it was screened in several cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra) during the Spanish Film Festival last May, but not yet in Townsville, the city of Powerpuff Girls! And not in big chain cinemas like Event Cinemas and Reading Cinemas. What an insult.
Even United States was late; it started the limited screen of Agora on 28 May10. Come on people, a good movie is there, and it's not the cliche gladiator stuff, nor the cliche Julius Caesar and Cleopatra stuff, and we're not watching it?!
I guess the fact that it was made by Spanish Alejandro Amenabar and was first screened in Spain in October last year didn't elevate it to the international level huh? Bummer. I'm telling you what: I'm buying the DVD in Ebay, and I will tell you what I think of it after I receive it. I will also STILL watch it in the cinema if ever it plays here by the end of the year...
That's the least I can do for a woman who died protecting sound science, her faith in herself, and the past glory of the Library of Alexandria.
Pic: DVD cover R2 of Agora from Amazon.com
4 comments:
I saw the film when it first came out in NYC and loved Weisz' performance as Hypatia. Amenabar distorts some history in service to his art (the Library didn't end that way and Synesius wasn't a jerk), but that's what artists do. I don't go to the movies for history. If you're interested in the historical Hypatia, I highly recommend a very readable biography "Hypatia of Alexandria" by Maria Dzielska (Harvard University Press, 1995). I also have a series of posts on the historical events and characters in the film at my blog (http://faithljustice.wordpress.com) - not a movie review, just a "reel vs. real" discussion.
Hi FLJustice,
Thanks a lot for the book recommendation, will have a look at it at my local library(s). And I like the way you put 'reel vs real' discussions. I've visited your blog just now, but I will read it through when I have watched the DVD I am to buy soon (next week on my payment day). Then I shall discuss things with you. Looking interesting so far!
And all the best for the book you're writing!
Icha, I must find time to read more about Agora, and Ms. Justice's blog/web site and books. What a treasure for this history buff who loves 'facts'. Thanks.
Yrs aff'ly,
Linda the Librarian
My dearest, I will order Agora from Ebay Spain as my next payment arrives. Then afterwards I shall let you know what I think of it.
And actually I'm salivating for the book too! I hope I can source it from local library.
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