Catholic groups in Spain are protesting the soon-to-open film “Agora” (about the death of Hypatia of Alexandria) saying it is “biased” and “anti-Christian”.

“The president of the Religious Anti-Defamation Observatory, Antonio Alonso Marcos, has sent an open letter to Amenabar, also know for his pro-euthanasia film “The Sea Inside,” denouncing the film’s anti-Christian bias. “The reason for my letter is to make you realize something that you already know but have dismissed as unimportant: your film is going to awaken hatred against Christians in today’s society. You present a biased view of the relationship between science and the Church, between faith and reason. It has been pointed out to you directly and indirectly, and you have used a somewhat vague excuse and looked the other way,” Marcos wrote.”

Spanish Catholics would obviously prefer that the past misdeeds of Christianity be forever tucked away and never mentioned. To do otherwise is to be “biased” against them (they also claim it will “awaken hatred against Christians”). Of course it’s just fine for Catholics to constantly criticize paganism, both ancient and modern, they have no concerns about being seen as “anti-pagan” (indeed it is a point of pride). Despite these attacks, Oscar-winning director Alejandro Amenabar makes it clear that his movie is about violent extremists not common believers.

“The movie denounces people who at a certain moment stop debating ideas, set aside reason, have no room for dialogue and resort to violence. This happened 1,600 years ago and it continues happening today…”

As for the film, it is still looking for distributors in America, and once/if it does, expect more cries of protest from those who would like everyone to forget that Christians weren’t always the persecuted, but instead acted as persecutors as well.

The movie “Agora”, which centers on the life of Neoplatonist pagan philosopher Hypatia, had its first official screening at the Cannes Film Festival and initial reviews are trickling in from the entertainment press. While some thought the epic overreached and fell a bit flat, others, like Variety’s Todd McCarthy, thinks the film succeeds with its handling of difficult subjects despite some “dramaturgical” shortcomings.

Director Alejandro Amenábar with Rachel Weisz

“…there is much in the picture to sustain sympathetic interest, including its dedicated historical perspective, intellectual seriousness and credible presentation of epic film elements that have often tripped up filmmakers in the past. Then there is the physical side of the production, which is genuinely impressive. Lensing entirely in Malta, Amenabar has fleshed out real locations with extensive sets and helpful (and largely undetectable) CGI extensions to provide a striking impression of a legendary ancient city. Production designer Guy Hendrix Dyas has mixed traditional Greco-Roman style buildings with Egyptian motifs and various interior decorative influences to palpably evoke a Mediterranean port city where many cultures convened. Gabriella Pescucci’s costumes colorfully support this approach, and Xavi Gimenez’s widescreen lensing captures it all with colorful mobility. Dario Marianelli’s score is rich, with occasional swells into the bombastic.”

Also speaking positively about the film are the Hollywood Reporter’s Natasha Senjanovic, who says that Rachel Weisz gives an “unfaltering” performance as Hypatia, and Patrick Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times who calls the film rich in “visual imagination”. As for the historical accuracy buffs, The Guardian’s Charlotte Higgins calls “Agora” a “gift to classicists”.

“Classicists are going to have a field day with Alejandro Amenábar’s Agora, which premiered yesterday at the Cannes film festival. Starring Rachel Weisz as Hypatia, the 4th- to 5th-century Alexandrian astronomer, philosopher and mathematician, who was brutally killed by an angry Christian mob, it avoids some of the pitfalls of movies set in the ancient world. The characters behave naturally and speak normally, without either jolting archaisms or ridiculous anachronisms, and the world that has been created to stand in for Alexandria – a huge set on Malta – works well, with minimum CGI nastiness and an obvious attention to historical detail. The costumes and the “look” of the characters was based on Romano-Egyptian mummy portraits, said Amenábar at his press conference, and that was deftly done.”

Even better, Higgins assures us that the film manages to “deftly” include the famous tale of Hypatia repelling a suitor by showing him her menstrual rags. Also reassuring to those worried that Hypatia the virgin philosopher would be thrust into romance is this comment by director Alejandro Amenabar when counselling Rachel Weisz in the role.

“Rachel had accepted the part, but then she grew worried about that solitude, so she called me one day to talk,” Amenabar recalls. “I told her, ‘Remember, I’m not offering you the part of the scientist’s wife. You are the scientist. And you are very much in love — you’re just in love with the sky.’ ”

So it looks like “Agora” really will be a treat for Pagan film-goers once it sees wide release in December. Prepare to ramp up your expectations! I can’t wait to see this one on the big screen.

The movie “Agora”, which chronicles the pagan philosopher Hypatia’s attempts to preserve the collected wisdom of Alexandria, has released a teaser trailer.

“Agora” is scheduled for a mid-December 2009 release (rioting Christian mobs are quite Christmas-y). The film is directed by Alejandro Amenabar (“The Others”, “The Sea Inside”), and stars Academy Award-winning English actress Rachel Weisz as Hypatia. For more on the film check out my post from March 2008. Thanks to Rimrunner for the heads-up!

Filming is currently underway on “Agora”, a work directed by Alejandro Amenabar (“The Others”, “The Sea Inside”), that centers on the efforts of female philosopher and mathematician Hypatia to save the collected wisdom of Alexandria. Starring in the role of Hypatia will be Academy Award-winning English actress Rachel Weisz.

Max Minghella, Alejandro Amenabar, and Rachel Weisz.

This film, more than any other recent film set during the classical period, will be closely watched by modern Pagans (especially Hellenic reconstructionists). Many of whom consider Hypatia to be one of the primary martyrs of pre-Christian pagan religion.

“Yet even she fell a victim to the political jealousy which at that time prevailed. For as she had frequent interviews with Orestes, it was calumniously reported among the Christian populace, that it was she who prevented Orestes from being reconciled to the bishop. Some of them therefore, hurried away by a fierce and bigoted zeal, whose ringleader was a reader named Peter, waylaid her returning home, and dragging her from her carriage, they took her to the church called Caesareum, where they completely stripped her, and then murdered her by scraping her skin off with tiles and bits of shell. After tearing her body in pieces, they took her mangled limbs to a place called Cinaron, and there burnt them.” – Socrates of Constantinople

Hypatia was renowned for her knowledge and virtue, and reportedly remained a virgin until her death (she once repelled a suitor by showing him her menstrual rags). But virgin or not, such things can’t stop a romantic sub-plot from being introduced into the film.

“Set in Roman Egypt in the fourth century, “Agora” tells the story of the legendary astronomer Hypatia (Weisz), trapped in the legendary Library of Alexandria, and her fight to save the old world’s wisdom from the religious riots sweeping the streets of Alexandria. Her slave Davus (Minghella) wrestles with his yearning for freedom and his professed love for his mistress.”

All the same, the director (who also co-wrote the script) seems passionate about the film, and according to Rachel Weisz the work “gets to the heart of the ugliness and the beauty of what it is to be human.” So for now, I’m feeling quite positive about the film’s prospects. With “Agora” currently filming, and “Cowboys for Christ” scheduled to start shooting in April, it looks like 2009 may be a very good year for Pagan-friendly films.