I enjoy a historical drama if it stays true to what we know of the period, this movie fails completely.
The movie is aimed squarely at the religious/atheism debate, but the arguments presented are pure 19th/20th century. Except the proponents are wearing togas.
Example: The Christians are arguing "No salvation w/o Jesus". That's 19th century. In Alexandria in 391 the Christians were already established and were more likely to have been arguing for and against Arianism (which does not make for much of a plot for a movie). Prior to that they would have been promoting The Resurrection, because their main focus was that they worshiped a living god, in comparison to the Romans, whom they believed worshiped dead statues. The Romans, by comparison, would have argued the pacifism and "love everybody even if they don't deserve it" ethics of the Christians were completely impractical and would destroy the empire.
Also, a woman teaching men philosophy and science In Alexandria in 391? No chance. Sorry, the Romans didn't swing that way.
If you are really curious about how Christianity interacted with the Roman religions from about 100 AD - 500 AD, this movie will not only tell you nothing, you'll get loaded up with disinformation.
The movie is aimed squarely at the religious/atheism debate, but the arguments presented are pure 19th/20th century. Except the proponents are wearing togas.
Example: The Christians are arguing "No salvation w/o Jesus". That's 19th century. In Alexandria in 391 the Christians were already established and were more likely to have been arguing for and against Arianism (which does not make for much of a plot for a movie). Prior to that they would have been promoting The Resurrection, because their main focus was that they worshiped a living god, in comparison to the Romans, whom they believed worshiped dead statues. The Romans, by comparison, would have argued the pacifism and "love everybody even if they don't deserve it" ethics of the Christians were completely impractical and would destroy the empire.
Also, a woman teaching men philosophy and science In Alexandria in 391? No chance. Sorry, the Romans didn't swing that way.
If you are really curious about how Christianity interacted with the Roman religions from about 100 AD - 500 AD, this movie will not only tell you nothing, you'll get loaded up with disinformation.