Sort-of movie rec: Agora

[orichalcum]

I saw (and taught) a really incredible movie last week - and yet I'm not sure I can recommend it to a lot of you. It's the 2009 Spanish (but dubbed by original actors) film Agora, directed by Alejandro Amenabar, starring Rachel Weisz, about the 4th century CE female mathematician and astronomer Hypatia of Alexandria. More than Hypatia, though, it's

Comments

[yaleartificer]

I agree on all counts -- a haunting movie, and a must-see for any scientist. Or for that matter, anybody who doesn't already know the story of Hypatia. But it's likely to make you sad, angry, or both.

I think it would be good required viewing in a class, though. The one lesson about history that everybody ought to know is that history isn't a steady march of progress -- knowledge and freedoms can easily be lost to aggressive, irrational people.

[digitalemur]

*grin* Duly noted. Sounds like an interesting film, for all that.

[orichalcum]

It is...but I'd put it in the same category as something like Willis' Doomsday Book - if you're ever in the mood/place to deal with a piece of art that will really upset you, go for it.

I forgot "lots of violence directed towards librarians" as another trigger warning. :(

[karakara98]

I remember hearing about this movie during 2009, but never got around to watching it. Thanks for your thoughts on it. I always appreciate warnings that a work takes on tough subjects.