Agora (2009) Storyline and Short Reviews

Agora (Spanish: Gora) is a 2009 English-language Spanish historical drama film directed and written by Alejandro Amenábar and Mateo Gil. Rachel Weisz stars as Hypatia, a mathematician, philosopher, and astronomer in late fourth-century Roman Egypt who studies the inadequacies of the geocentric Ptolemaic system and the heliocentric model that challenges it.

In the midst of religious strife and societal instability, Hypatia fights to safeguard ancient antiquity’s wisdom from oblivion. Max Minghella plays Davus, Hypatia’s father’s slave, and Oscar Isaac plays Orestes, Hypatia’s pupil and subsequently prefect of Alexandria.

All Discussion Of Agora (2009)

Storyline

In 391 AD, Alexandria was part of the Roman Empire, and Greek philosopher Hypatia was a teacher at the Platonic school, where future leaders are taught. Hypatia is the daughter of Theon, the director of the Museum of Alexandria.

Hypatia, her father’s slave Davus, and two of her students, Orestes and Synesius, get caught up in the shifting political and social scene. She rejects Orestes’ love because she chooses to dedicate herself to research. Davus helps Hypatia with her lessons and is interested in science. He is also secretly in love with her.

Meanwhile, societal instability starts to challenge Roman power in the city, with Pagans and Christians clashing. When the Christians begin to verbally attack the statues of the pagan gods, the pagans, notably Orestes and Theon, ambush the Christians.

However, in the subsequent struggle, the pagans are surprisingly overpowered by a strong Christian crowd. Theon is severely hurt, and Hypatia and the pagans seek safety in the Serapeum Library.

The Christian siege of the library ends when an ambassador of Roman Emperor Theodosius I reports that the pagans have been pardoned. Still, the Christians will be permitted to take control of the library. Hypatia and the pagans depart, hoping to salvage the most significant scrolls before the Christians take over the library and burn its contents.

Davus decides to join the Christian armies. He then returns with a gladius and sexually rapes her, but he sobs and hands her his sword. On the other hand, she removes his slave collar and informs him he is now free.

Several years later, Orestes, who has now converted to Christianity, is appointed prefect of Alexandria. Hypatia continues to study the movements of the Sun, Moon, the five known “wanderers” (planets), and the stars.

Some Christians mock the idea that the Earth is spherical, claiming that those far from the top would fall off the Earth. When they question Davus for his viewpoint, he avoids controversy by replying that only God knows these things.

The Climax of Agora (2009)

Hypatia’s defense of the heliocentric model angers her religious adversaries, who bring political pressure to bear on her father. Believing that Orestes can protect Hypatia and safeguard the family business, Davus helps them escape Alexandria. Pursued by the priesthood, they take refuge in a monastery on Mount Athos, where Hypatia continues to teach mathematics and astronomy despite threats against her life.

The film ends with Orestes being named prefect of Alexandria and Davus returning home to serve his old master as he had served Hypatia: as a servant of learning. The novel’s dedication reads: “This book is for Claudiu and Dora, who have never stopped asking questions.”

The Story Behind Agora (2009)

The story behind Agora is based on true events that occurred in fourth-century Alexandria, Egypt. The film tells the story of a brilliant and courageous woman who fights to preserve ancient wisdom against great odds. Hypatia’s saga is inspired by real-life historical figures such as mathematician Ptolemy III Euergetes and astronomer Hipparchus.

While working on his seminal work, Mathematical Principles of Geometry (c.300 BC), Egyptian philosopher Euclid imagined geometry without points or lines; he called this idea “the axiomatic method.” Hypatia was one of the first mathematicians to use this method systematically.

In the film, Hypatia’s adversaries are teachers of religious dogma who see her scientific work as a threat to their power. In the real-life Hypatia’s time, some of her fellow mathematicians were persecuted by religious authorities for their beliefs. Agora is based on the true story of a brilliant and courageous woman who fights to preserve ancient wisdom against great odds.

Hypatia’s saga is inspired by real-life historical figures such as mathematician Ptolemy III Euergetes and astronomer Hipparchus. The story of Hypatia has always been one of inspiring defiance against cultural and religious oppression. It is a tale about the power of knowledge and the courage it takes to fight for what’s right.

Movie Cast and Characters

Rachel Weisz

Rachel Hannah Weisz is an actress from England. She has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, an Academy Actors Guild Award, another Laurence Olivier Award, and a British Academy Film Award. Weisz appeared in the feature films The Merchant of Venice (1992), My Left Foot (1994), Armageddon (1998), and Vanilla Sky (2001).

She had a recurring role on the Showtime series Midsomer Murders from 2002 to 2004. Weisz starred as Dr. Elizabeth Kübler-Ross in The Act of Killing, an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film.

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac is an American actor. He began his career by appearing in short films and minor roles in feature films before landing lead roles in the independent dramas A Most Violent Year (2014) and Ex Machina (2015). He achieved wider recognition for his role as X-Men character Apocalypse in the 2016 film Logan.

Max Minghella

Maximilian “Max” Minghella is an English actor. He made his screen debut in the 2001 film The Hole and established himself as a leading British actor with roles in films such as War of the Worlds (2005), Knights of Badalona (2006), Never Let Me Go (2008), and Solaris (2002).

Michael Lonsdale

Michael Lonsdale is an English actor. He first came to public attention for his role as Tommy Shelby in the BBC’s TV series Midsomer Murders and has since appeared in film roles such as Testament (2008) and In Dreams (2009), among others.

Rupert Evans

Rupert Evans is an English actor. He made his feature film debut in 1994 and has since starred in a variety of roles, primarily in British films. In the United States, he is known for his roles as Hale Caesar on the Showtime series House of Cards and Roman Pearce on NBC’s crime drama Trial & Error.

Awards of Agora (2009)

The Agora Awards are given annually by the British Film Institute to honor outstanding achievements in British cinema. 2009 saw nominations for the Academy Award-winning The King’s Speech and several other highly acclaimed films.

Agora was submitted for 13 Goya Awards, receiving seven of them, and the film was also nominated for the Alfred P. Award. In 2009, at the Hamptons International Film Festival, the Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize (US$25,000) was rewarded.

The Ending of Agora (2009)

Hypatia further analyzes Aristarchus of Samos’ heliocentric concept of the solar system by dropping an item from the mast of a moving ship, demonstrating that a potential motion of the Earth would not impact the speed relative to a falling object on Earth.

However, because of religious objections to heliocentrism, the Christians have now barred Hypatia from teaching at the institution. Christians and Jews clash violently.

Cyril, the head of the Christians, believes Hypatia has too much power over Orestes and organizes a public ceremony to compel Orestes to submit to her. Hypatia’s old student, Synesius, now Bishop of Cyrene, comes to her aid as a religious authority counterbalance, but he refuses to support her unless she joins Christianity, which she rejects.

According to Hypatia, the Earth circles the Sun in an elliptic orbit, not a circular orbit, with the Sun at one foci. Cyril persuades a horde of Christians that Hypatia is a witch, and they vow to murder her. Davus attempts to go ahead to notify Hypatia, but she is apprehended.

They had stripped Hypatia and are ready to skin her alive when Davus convinces the crowd to stone her instead. When the crowd rushes outside to get stones, Davus suffocates her to save her the agony of being stoned and informs the mob that she fainted. Davus flees as they begin to stone her.

Overall Reviews

Audience analysis

The ardent monks’ concern was how they were entangled in the Greek term Nous, which sounds like a noose but means “heart prayer.” A noose, like a hanging, disrupts the link between the brain (thinking) and the body (heart). The correct term is “news,” which is similar to directions – north, east, west, and south: a plus. Without a heart-to-feed mind link, you’re dead.

The heart must be able to take up “O to” in the lungs in order to feed the brain (desire and drive to work for a change, recharging it). It’s quite sad. That’s the problem with passion: there’s no deliberation before action; it’s just animal instinct/reaction.

The Word is an astonishing force, as is the Human Brain: a massive computer if ever there was one, and it is also securely constructed in every aspect, totally basic. Consider this: Geometry, symmetry, synergy, and synthesis are all sinister noises in mathematics (except for geometry, by George.)

Hypatia is a lady ahead of her time; her ideas are revolutionary, her values are outstanding; she researched extensively and died defending her faith in the freedom to question, despite the political turmoils of religion and philosophy, and as a woman in a patriarchal society.

The video eloquently illustrates the flexibility of paganism and Egyptians, the rigidity placed on them by masculine society, and the freedom experienced by females before the onset of their dark ages, the anarchy that existed.

Critic’s Analysis

For the first time, a visually imposing, serious-minded epic that ambitiously places one of the most important moments in Western history on screen. Alejandro Amenábar and his film, Agora, were admired by The Guardian’s British writer and film critic Peter Bradshaw, who described it as “an ambitious, cerebral, and complex film.”

Unlike most toga movies, it doesn’t depend on CGI spectacle; instead, it focuses on real drama and ideas,” Bradshaw admired Rachel Weisz’s performance as Hypatia, calling it “an outstanding performance.” I came to watch Agora expecting an epic with swords, sandals, and sex, he said.

I found swords and sandals, some unexpected opinions about sex, and a lot more in the film, which obtained a 53% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 93 reviews, with a 5.7/10 average score.

Visual Effects of Agora (2009)

The visual effects in Agora are very impressive. It’s a beautiful film to look at, with stunning locations and top-notch animation. While the CG may not be ground-breaking, it is used expertly and effectively to convey the story. Motion graphics are particularly innovative and effective, lending an extra level of realism to the scenes.

At times, these effects are so good that they almost distract from the real actors onscreen; however, this aspect of Agora is well executed and does not feel gimmicky or cheesy.

The acting in Agora is generally very good. Rachel Weisz gives an outstanding performance as Hypatia and manages to bring depth and complexity to her character. Other actors display excellent range and talent, particularly Oscar Isaac as Socrates.

However, a few performances are not quite up to par, especially that of Jeremy Irons (who plays Theodosius), who comes across as wooden and lifeless at times. Apart from this minor flaw, the acting in Agora is generally top-notch.

Overall, Agora is a well-made film with stunning visuals that is executed very well. It has excellent acting, with particular standout performances by Rachel Weisz and Oscar Isaac. The visuals may not be ground-breaking, but they are effectively used to convey the story.

While some aspects of the film could be improved (especially the acting), Agora is an impressive work that will leave a lasting impression on viewers.

Conclusion

Agora is a beautifully made film with excellent visual effects that are used effectively to convey the story. It has stellar acting by Rachel Weisz and Oscar Isaac, as well as good performances from other actors. The visuals may not be ground-breaking, but they are effective in conveying the story of Agora.

This is worth seeing, despite being a little fragmented at parts. This is based on a real person; however, since it is not a documentary, it has been heavily dramatized. The settings, costumes, and props are all excellent

FAQs

1.How Historically Accurate Is the Film Agora?

Ans: There is no one answer to this question as it largely depends on personal taste. However, some people feel that the film Agora is historically accurate, while others believe that it is not.

Some people feel that the film Agora does a good job of portraying the events that took place during the time period in which it is set, while others feel that it leaves out important details. Ultimately, it is up to each individual viewer to decide whether or not they think the film is accurate.

2.Is the Movie Agora A True Story?

Ans: There is no one answer to this question as it depends on the individual’s interpretation. However, some people believe that the movie agora is a true story, while others think it is an adaptation of a true story.

3.Who Killed Hypatia In Agora?

Ans: There is no definitive answer to this question. However, there are several theories that have been put forward over the years.

One theory suggests that the Christians who were in power at the time killed Hypatia because she was an expert in mathematics and astronomy, and they believed that these fields were associated with paganism.

Another theory suggests that Hypatia was killed because she refused to convert to Christianity.

Still, another theory suggests that Hypatia was killed because she was a threat to the Christian church’s power and influence in Alexandria.

4.How Do You Feel About Your National Cinema?

Ans: There are many different opinions on national cinema. Some people love it, while others find it boring and outdated. However, there is no denying that national cinema has a rich history and is often associated with important events in the country’s history.

Some of the benefits of watching national cinema include:

• It can be a source of pride for citizens of a country.
• It can help to connect people from different parts of the country together.
• It can provide an understanding of historical events that may not be available elsewhere.

5.Is Agora a Good Movie?

Ans: There is no definitive answer to this question. In fact, people can have different opinions on whether or not the movie agora is a good movie based on their own personal preferences.