Agora

Agora (2009)

I love a bit of costume drama I do, however many of the toga classics that have played recently have been a bit overblown and boring ,Alexander and Troy come to mind. This story however still has plenty of fighting and violence, but I think its redemption is that the main character is a female. Rachel Weisz plays Hypathia, a 4th century philopher in Alexandria, where she tutors her male students in Science and Maths.

At the time, we see the rise of the Christians, who were once abused, take power and treat others so poorly. The Jews are forced from the city after the ransacking of their homes and businesses, and the Greeks and Romans are forced to kneel to the priests if they want to stay in power.

So an interesting story about the Philospher and her slave, and a background of a religious struggle that seems to carry on today make this a worthy dramatic watch. 3/5