Agora (2009)
Adventure, Biography, Drama |.
Agora is a Spanish English-language historical drama film directed by Alejandro Amenábar and written by Amenábar and Mateo Gil. The biopic stars Rachel Weisz as Hypatia, a mathematician, philosopher and astronomer in late 4th-century Roman Egypt, who investigates the flaws of the geocentric Ptolemaic system and the heliocentric model that challenges it. Surrounded by religious turmoil and social unrest, Hypatia struggles to save the knowledge of classical antiquity from destruction. Max Minghella co-stars as Davus, Hypatia’s father’s slave, and Oscar Isaac as Hypatia’s student, and later prefect of Alexandria, Orestes.
In 391 AD, Alexandria is part of the Roman Empire, and Greek philosopher Hypatia is a teacher at the Platonic school, where future leaders are educated. Hypatia is the daughter of Theon, the director of the Musaeum of Alexandria. Hypatia, her father’s slave, Davus, and two of her pupils, Orestes and Synesius, are immersed in the changing political and social landscape. She rejects Orestes’s love as she prefers to devote herself to science. Davus assists Hypatia in her classes and is interested in science. He is also secretly in love with her.
Meanwhile, social unrest begins challenging the Roman rule of the city as Pagans and Christians come into conflict. When the Christians start defiling the statues of the pagan gods and cause one of their priests to burn in a fire, the pagans, including Orestes and Theon, ambush the Christians. However, in the ensuing battle, the pagans unexpectedly find themselves outnumbered by a large Christian mob.
Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Writers: Alejandro Amenábar, Mateo Gil
Stars: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac, Ashraf Barhom, Michael Lonsdale, Rupert Evans, Homayoun Ershadi
►Cast:
| Rachel Weisz | … | Hypatia |
| Max Minghella | … | Davus |
| Oscar Isaac | … | Orestes |
| Ashraf Barhom | … | Ammonius |
| Michael Lonsdale | … | Theon |
| Rupert Evans | … | Synesius |
| Homayoun Ershadi | … | Aspasius |
| Sami Samir | … | Cyril (as Sammy Samir) |
| Richard Durden | … | Olympius |
| Omar Mostafa | … | Isidorus |
| Manuel Cauchi | … | Theophilus |
| Oshri Cohen | … | Medorus |
| Charles Thake | … | Hesiquius |
| Harry Borg | … | Prefect Evragius |
| Yousef ‘Joe’ Sweid | … | Peter (as Yousef Sweid) |
| Clint Dyer | … | Hierax-Parabolano |
| Sam Cox | … | Pagan Rival |
| George Harris | … | Heladius Dignitary |
| Sylvester Morand | … | Dignitary |
| Paul Barnes | … | Dignitary |
| Amber Rose Revah | … | Sidonia |
| Jordan Kiziuk | … | Hypatia’s Disciple |
| Francis Ghersci | … | Hypatia’s Disciple |
| Jonathan Grima | … | Hypatia’s Disciple |
| Edward Caruana Galizia | … | Student |
| Chris Dingli | … | Student (as Christopher Dingli) |
| Stephen Buhagiar | … | Parabalano |
| Joseph Camilleri | … | Parabolano |
| Charles Sammut | … | Philosopher |
| Michael Sciortino | … | Philosopher |
| Joe Quattromani | … | Old Philosopher |
| Alan Meadows | … | Rabbi |
| Peter Borg | … | Pagan Priest |
| Paul Portelli | … | Troublemaker |
| Robert Ricards | … | Roman Officer (as Rob Ricards) |
| Alan Paris | … | Bodyguard |
| John Montanaro | … | Bodyguard |
| Malcolm Ellul | … | Bodyguard |
| Ray Mangion | … | Crier via Canopica |
| Mary Rose Bonello | … | Old Jewish Woman |
| André Agius | … | Child (as Andre Agius) |
| Frederick Testa | … | Christian |
| Sean Buhagiar | … | Christian Student |
| Theresa Celia | … | Christian Woman |
| Frank Tanti | … | Deacon |
| Anthony Ellul | … | Deacon |
| Pierre Stafrace | … | Deacon |
| Christopher Raikes | … | Frightened Hellenic Man |
| Clare Agius | … | Frightened Hellenic Woman |
| Mario Camilleri | … | Alarmed Neighbour |
| Wesley Ellul | … | Guard |
| John Marinelli | … | Guard |
| Simon Cormi | … | Informer (as Simon Curmi) |
| Peter Galea | … | Roman Officer |
| Nikovich Sammut | … | Roman Officer |
| Ronnie Galea | … | Ship’s Captain |
| David Ellul-Mercer | … | Slave (as David Ellul) |
| Philip Mizzi | … | Surgeon (as Phillip Mizzi) |
| Alan Azzopardi | … | Suspicious Jew |
| Polly March | … | Woman with Figs |
| Joe Pace | … | Stallkeeper |
| John Suda | … | Customer |
| Michael Tabone | … | Rabbi |
| Angele Galea | … | Charition |
| Malcolm Galea | … | Charition’s Brother |
| Paul Celia | … | Indian King (as Paul Cilia) |
| Jean-Pierre Agius | … | Clown (as Jean Pierre Agius) |
| Samuel Montague | … | Crier (as Sam Montague) |
| Marieclaire Camilleri | … | Jewish Girl |
| Guilherme de Franco | … | Roman Officer |
| Jimmy Grima | … | Hypatia Disciple No.2 |
| Andrew Hillsden | … | Pagan Warrior |
| Jovan Pisani | … | Drunken Indian |
| Juan Serrano | … | Dead Jew |
| Novica Todorovic | … | Parabalano Fighter |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia