Review of Agora (2009) by Mikael K — 18 Jul 2012

This movie was marketed as a romantic historical action drama, which made me more than skeptical concerning its quality. Still, Rachel Weisz was leading and her track record is rather okay so I decided to give âAgoraâ? a chance. Iâ(TM)m glad I did.

âAgoraâ? is in fact not mainly an action film and definitely not a romantic film at all. Itâ(TM)s a top quality historical drama that celebrates the human quest for knowledge and probes our tendency towards hatred and violence.

Young mathematician Hypatia (Weizs) defies the norms of her society in Roman Egypt by concentrating on science and knowledge instead of courting potential husbands and staying quiet and servile as is expected of a young woman. Her students are bright and willing to see change in an empire gradually dying in its grandiose inability to adapt and progress.

Christianity is rising and so are dissidence and opposition of the slave system. Hypatia is an embodiment of these new ideas that threaten the state. She gets pulled into political schemes and conflicts of ideology while working on the mysteries of moving heavenly bodies.

Weisz is excellent as Hypatia, the role giving her a chance to express her range. Writer/director Alejandro Amenábar brings the ancient empire alive beautifully, drawing bold connections between historical and current events. One could argue that âAgoraâ? is mere atheist propaganda that only has merit in a nation where science and religion are in direct and visible conflict, but I maintain that this film reaches dimensions deeper and wiser than that. It is first and foremost an ode to knowledge and curiosity.