Agora

"Alexandria, Egypt. 391 A.D. The World Changed Forever."

2009 2h 7m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 1,621

AdventureDramaHistory

Synopsis

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A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria and her relationship with her slave Davus, who is torn between his love for her and the possibility of gaining his freedom by joining the rising tide of Christianity.

“Alexandria, Egypt. 391 A.D. The World Changed Forever.”

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Where to watch · US

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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

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Writers: Alejandro Amenábar, Mateo Gil
Languages: English
Countries: Spain

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Mid-budget at $70M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 56% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Alejandro Amenábar, shot by Xavi Giménez. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Dario Marianelli. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Nacho Ruiz Capillas shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Rachel Weisz and Max Minghella and Oscar Isaac carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Alexandria, Egypt. 391 A.D. The World Changed Forever.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Alejandro Amenábar directs. Xavi Giménez behind the camera. Dario Marianelli scores. Nacho Ruiz Capillas cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Spain. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Mid-budget at $70M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
2Earned back only 56% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released 17 years ago.
4Directed by Alejandro Amenábar, shot by Xavi Giménez. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Dario Marianelli. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Nacho Ruiz Capillas shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Rachel Weisz and Max Minghella and Oscar Isaac carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Alexandria, Egypt. 391 A.D. The World Changed Forever.".
9IMDB entry: tt1186830 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 25 themes, including "egypt", "new love", "roman empire", "christianity".

The technical file

Cinematography: Xavi Giménez
Original score: Dario Marianelli
Editing: Nacho Ruiz Capillas
Production design: Guy Hendrix Dyas
Costume design: Gabriella Pescucci
Makeup / hair: Lesley Smith
VFX supervisor: Félix Bergés
Sound: Tom Sayers
Stunt coordinator: Jordi Casares
Runtime: 127 min · 2h 7m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $70,000,000
Box office: $39,457,342
Return: 56% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Agora (2009)

Awards

Goya Award for Best Production Supervision
Goya Award for Best Original Screenplay
Goya Award for Best Cinematography
Goya Award for Best Art Direction
Goya Award for Best Costume Design
Goya Award for Best Special Effects

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Alejandro Amenábar

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

TheRealMina2023-08-04
★ 3/10
Agora represents a rather chaotic and completely inaccurate historical biopic. Despite the commendable acting by Rachel Weisz and Oscar Isaac, the movie, which was created with a significant budget, strangely exudes an air of thriftiness typically associated with lower-budget productions. The storyline itself verges on the absurd, taking considerable liberties with historical facts by reshaping them and even conjuring entirely new occurrences. This departure from reality transforms the work from a scholarly biopic into a realm of pure fantasy. The library of Alexandria no longer existed during the time of Hypatia. Furthermore, the circumstances surrounding the destruction or closure of the Library of Alexandria remain shrouded in mystery. The precise cause, whether through fire or deliberate demolition, eludes us. Yet the film decides to come up with its own narrative as to how the library was destroyed. Additionally, the depiction of Christian riots in the film does not align with historical accuracy, a complete falsehood just to add drama and tension to an otherwise boring feature film. For a historical biopic, accuracy is important and this film fales miserably. Definitely do not watch this as an accurate representation of historical events.
RalphRahal2024-12-17
★ 7/10
Agora is a well-crafted film that manages to be both entertaining and educational. While the movie takes some creative liberties with the historical events, which is understandable given the gaps in recorded history, it does a great job of capturing the essence of the time. The writing feels solid, and despite some moments that might stretch historical accuracy, the story remains compelling and thought-provoking. The acting is another highlight. Rachel Weisz shines as Hypatia, bringing intelligence and grace to the role. Her portrayal makes Hypatia’s struggle with philosophy, reason, and the changing world around her deeply engaging. Most of the main cast delivered strong performances that added depth to the characters and their relationships. The directing is to the point, keeping the narrative focused on the tension between reason and dogma. The production design deserves credit too. It successfully recreates the feel of ancient Alexandria, immersing you in the historical setting. From the bustling streets to the grandeur of the Serapeum, it pulls you into the world of the film. Overall, Agora is a beautifully executed movie that is as educational as it is entertaining. It offers a glimpse into an important and tumultuous period of history while exploring timeless themes about knowledge, power, and humanity. Despite its fictionalized elements, it is a powerful film that is worth watching.