Diane Hypatia(PART 1 OF 3)
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Kato, how come you place my name right beside Hypatia?
Oh ... Diane, do you know who Hypatia is?
Yes, of course, I know. She is a Greek philosopher renowned for her beauty, isn't she?
Oh ..., ma ma mia ... ooh la la ... What an astounding jack-in-the-box!
Kato, what makes you so flabbergasted?
You know, Diane, not many people go to church these days.
I know. I know. But I don't blame them.
Why not?
...'Cause there are so many diversions people are occupied with. Going to movies is more exciting than going to church. Sitting in front of the computer screen is much more fun than sitting on a hard bench in the church.
So, Diane, you don't blame me for not going to church nor going to Buddhist temple, do you?
No, I don't. But why are you talking about church?
Well ... you know, Hypatia was killed by a Christian mob. Since you're a devoted Christian and regular church-goer, you might have known the tragical incidents in the early history of Christianity---the murder of Hypatia, in particular. That's what I thought.
I see..., but, Kato, you aren't a Christian, are you? How on earth have you come to know about Hypatia?
Well ...I borrowed a DVD called "Agora" from Vancouver Public Library.
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■"Actual Shelf Page"
I see... You viewed 237th DVD, didn't you?
Yes, I did. "Agora" is a historical drama about Hypatia.
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■"Actual Catalogue Page"
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You watched the above movie on May 2, and jotted down the comment in the above, huh?
Yes, I did.
Your comment is too long, Kato. How come you always write a long comment? Make it short and get to the point.
I was thinking about writing an article on this movie. That's why I made it long so that you will know for sure what the movie is all about.
Instead of a long comment, the trailer will do a much better job, won't it?
The trailer is too short. I don't think you get a relatively full account of the story. Let me tell you the outline. I rewrite here the above comment with a number of still photos.
This is a 2009 historical drama directed by Alejandro Amenábar.
Rachel Weisz plays as Hypatia---a female mathematician, philosopher and astronomer in late 4th century Roman Egypt.
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Hypatia 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.
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Davus
Oscar Isaac plays as Hypatia's student, and later prefect of Alexandria, Orestes.
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(Orestes sitting behind Hypatia)
The film starts in 391 AD.
By the end of the 4th century A.D., the Roman empire was on the verge of collapse.
Yet Alexandria, in the province of Egypt, still retained much of its splendor.
It boasted one of the seven wonders of the ancient world---the legendary lighthouse.
It was also proud of the greatest library on earth.
(To be followed)