I can't really talk about this yet. My eyes keep leaking tears unexpectedly, like, they stop, and I uncurl from my den of sorrow and pain and love, and then a minute later there's shit trickling down my face again.
But.
The character I loved at first I ended up hating, the one I hated in the beginning turned out to be my favorite, and the guy I just thought was annoying became a super hottie in the second half. 100% agreement. Idk if I actually hate Davus in the end or not, though. It's hard to hate him when even Hypatia constantly dismisses him (omg a main character who is sympathetic and kickass but MINDLESSLY SUPPORTS SLAVERY WTF MY BRAIN IS DEAD. DEAD. I LOVE THE SPANISH), and then Cyril (or was that Ammonius? pre-bishop Cyril is confusing) shows him the positive side, the acceptance of all side, and I just...I don't hate Davus, I just hate the world that put him in that position, and I hate a lot of his decisions.
Orestes....I can't even. Apart from Hypatia and Aspasius, he's my favorite, I think. Even when he disappoints at the end, I love him, because other than Hypatia he is the only one I really see fighting at all for some sort of real peace and equality.
Synesius turns into a bit of a dick, but he also proves that men of God are gorgeous, so.
Oh look, I said I couldn't talk about it but then I did. Funny how that works.
But seriously. I want everyone to see this movie, and then if they cannot see how the exact same thing applies RIGHT NOW, the world is full of idiots and I'm moving to Alexandria.
I am SO happy you finally saw it! I mean, I was pushing it really hard but you *get* it now -- I felt exactly the same way after, that despite being a period flick it is so incredibly relevant. And SO AFFECTING. I was walking around in a legit daze after, and even in my most obsessed phases that never happens! This movie feels so ~important, you know? I want to make everyone watch it, no matter how ferocious they may be.
In my fangirl heart, I hate Davus -- even though I know he was enormously affected by outside factors and that he's the underdog in the film more than anyone else. My mind tells me that his journey was fabulously developed with pitfalls and choices and desperation but also adorableness (hair ruffling!!) but the weepy fangirl in me hates him for helping destroy the Serapeum and trying to go for Hypatia, even though he redeemed himself as well as he could in the end, and even though his storyline was *really* emotive. God! When he cries because he can't bear to take advantage of Hypatia! My heaaaaaaaaaart.
But yeah, of course Orestes is my favorite. I love how we get to see him grow and how close they still are years later -- HE STILL LOVES HER OMG BUT KEEPS IT ON THE DL BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS HER. (This is possibly comparable to the way Teddy is with Owen.) I adore how he and Synesius suddenly put away all their tension from youth when they meet again as adults! GROWTH OMG. The forehead touch! Also, when Synesius visits after he's injured from the stone, and Orestes starts out demanding a pledge of loyalty from him, but Synesius turns it around and gets Orestes to pledge to his faith instead -- GOD THAT SCENE BREAKS ME. Also, WHAT A DIFFERENT A HAIRCUT MAKES. HOW IS HE SUDDENLY GORGEOUS/EFFORTLESSLY PULLING OFF THOSE ROBES LIKE WHOA. Um, I love movies where all the characters get makeovers.
Orestes and Hypatia I love too because at the end there, they have a bit of a Lucian vibe, and their goodbye... gah. There are too many things in this movie that make me weep at the beauty/sadness. But Orestes; younger, naive enough to hope, passionate enough to fight, trusting that truth and goodness can prevail... and Hypatia; older, resigned to the entropy of hate, wise to the ways of corruption, aloof of open desperation... MY HEART. It's that Lucian balance of feeling vs. knowing. WHEN SHE CUPS HIS FACE AND TELLS HIM IT'S ALREADY OVER. WEEEEEEEEP. I like to imagine that Anna was beside her when she walked out into the street. It makes me feel better.
I AM SUPER PISSED THIS MOVIE ISN'T GETTING ANY ATTENTION IN AMERICA. LIKE WHY ARE THERE NO OSCAR NOMS OR ANYTHING. OR JUST PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT. RAAAAAAAAHHH.
Also crying when you are sick sucks, even for as good a reason as this movie. Yay for antibiotics!
But.
The character I loved at first I ended up hating, the one I hated in the beginning turned out to be my favorite, and the guy I just thought was annoying became a super hottie in the second half.
100% agreement. Idk if I actually hate Davus in the end or not, though. It's hard to hate him when even Hypatia constantly dismisses him (omg a main character who is sympathetic and kickass but MINDLESSLY SUPPORTS SLAVERY WTF MY BRAIN IS DEAD. DEAD. I LOVE THE SPANISH), and then Cyril (or was that Ammonius? pre-bishop Cyril is confusing) shows him the positive side, the acceptance of all side, and I just...I don't hate Davus, I just hate the world that put him in that position, and I hate a lot of his decisions.
Orestes....I can't even. Apart from Hypatia and Aspasius, he's my favorite, I think. Even when he disappoints at the end, I love him, because other than Hypatia he is the only one I really see fighting at all for some sort of real peace and equality.
Synesius turns into a bit of a dick, but he also proves that men of God are gorgeous, so.
Oh look, I said I couldn't talk about it but then I did. Funny how that works.
But seriously. I want everyone to see this movie, and then if they cannot see how the exact same thing applies RIGHT NOW, the world is full of idiots and I'm moving to Alexandria.
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I am SO happy you finally saw it! I mean, I was pushing it really hard but you *get* it now -- I felt exactly the same way after, that despite being a period flick it is so incredibly relevant. And SO AFFECTING. I was walking around in a legit daze after, and even in my most obsessed phases that never happens! This movie feels so ~important, you know? I want to make everyone watch it, no matter how ferocious they may be.
In my fangirl heart, I hate Davus -- even though I know he was enormously affected by outside factors and that he's the underdog in the film more than anyone else. My mind tells me that his journey was fabulously developed with pitfalls and choices and desperation but also adorableness (hair ruffling!!) but the weepy fangirl in me hates him for helping destroy the Serapeum and trying to go for Hypatia, even though he redeemed himself as well as he could in the end, and even though his storyline was *really* emotive. God! When he cries because he can't bear to take advantage of Hypatia! My heaaaaaaaaaart.
But yeah, of course Orestes is my favorite. I love how we get to see him grow and how close they still are years later -- HE STILL LOVES HER OMG BUT KEEPS IT ON THE DL BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS HER. (This is possibly comparable to the way Teddy is with Owen.) I adore how he and Synesius suddenly put away all their tension from youth when they meet again as adults! GROWTH OMG. The forehead touch! Also, when Synesius visits after he's injured from the stone, and Orestes starts out demanding a pledge of loyalty from him, but Synesius turns it around and gets Orestes to pledge to his faith instead -- GOD THAT SCENE BREAKS ME. Also, WHAT A DIFFERENT A HAIRCUT MAKES. HOW IS HE SUDDENLY GORGEOUS/EFFORTLESSLY PULLING OFF THOSE ROBES LIKE WHOA. Um, I love movies where all the characters get makeovers.
Orestes and Hypatia I love too because at the end there, they have a bit of a Lucian vibe, and their goodbye... gah. There are too many things in this movie that make me weep at the beauty/sadness. But Orestes; younger, naive enough to hope, passionate enough to fight, trusting that truth and goodness can prevail... and Hypatia; older, resigned to the entropy of hate, wise to the ways of corruption, aloof of open desperation... MY HEART. It's that Lucian balance of feeling vs. knowing. WHEN SHE CUPS HIS FACE AND TELLS HIM IT'S ALREADY OVER. WEEEEEEEEP. I like to imagine that Anna was beside her when she walked out into the street. It makes me feel better.
I AM SUPER PISSED THIS MOVIE ISN'T GETTING ANY ATTENTION IN AMERICA. LIKE WHY ARE THERE NO OSCAR NOMS OR ANYTHING. OR JUST PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT. RAAAAAAAAHHH.
Also crying when you are sick sucks, even for as good a reason as this movie. Yay for antibiotics!
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