Agora*****

[Old and In the Way]

I just finished watching this historical docu-drama that's been recently released on Netflix. Kudos to WCGreen in recommending this in a GP post yesterday.

This was a very powerful story about the historical tension between religion and science and centers on the life and death of Hypatia - history's 1st woman of science - and the ancient library and science center of Alexandria, Egypt. Interestingly, I learned about the parabalani, a lower class sect of Christian devotees who served as bodyguards and enforcers of Christian doctrine in this city. I think you'll be startled by the parallels between those times and the christianist movement today. Some things never change.

Here's some links from Wikipedia that provide some background to this movie-

Hypatia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypatia
Parabalini - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parabalani

Another movie that I never heard of....I can imagine that the producers had a hard time selling this movie into the US market. Well made, nice cinematography and acting...a movie a lot of DUers will appreciate, I think.

[supernova]

1. I watched Agora

As a docudrama it was a fascinating exercise. I loved, LOVED seeing what ancient Alexandra looked like. Technically it was stunning. I could see myself walking down the streets and visiting the library. Eating figs and honey.

At the same time, it was a bit emotionally offputting. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's just that you know what's coming. I think Hypatia was a bit flat. I found it hard to see what it was about her that her servant was attracted to. I think it sort of plays into the if you are very smart, you lack emotion meme. Not true, but it is out there in the culture. And apparently is very old.

Odd because I normally love Rachel Weiz. It could have been the director.