Agora
Agora refers to an open "place of assembly" in ancient city-states and in Alexandria’s antiquity was located just outside of its lamentably sacked library. Originally a place where citizens would gather to hear statements of the ruling king or council, in the time of the scientific philosopher Hypatia (Rachel Weisz) the space was used to find recruits for the newly emancipated religion called Christianity. Carl Sagan once called Hypatia the last librarian of the Library of Alexandria but she was also a teacher who would wax philosophically with Pagan, Jewish or Christian students while her adoring but astute slave Davus (Max Minghella) watched and listened. When the forces of Christianity rumbled into a position of influence she became a focal target in the struggle among zealots that included former students Orestes (Oscar Isaac) who became Imperial Prefect and Synesius (Rupert Evans) who became bishop of Ptolemais as well as the Patriarch Cyril not to mention Davus who turned his back on Hypatia to gain his freedom. This got a lot of Christians treating Hypatia very, well, un-Christian-like. Agora is a provocative movie that people should see but something says it may cause movie goers Agora-phobia.