5/11/2023 0 Comments Gaius julius caesar documentaryWith some adroit camera superimpositions of the old Augustus' face the story goes back in time to the death of Julius Caesar, the one who appointed the young Augustus (Benjamin Sadler) to be his successor. Augustus is attended by his wife Livia (again, a wise choice in casting the always superb Charlotte Rampling to bring this odd woman to life). His very presence gives the project credibility and dignity and helps the viewer forgive any of the many shortcomings that dot this epic. Writer Eric Lerner and Director Roger Young wisely elected to tell this tale as a series of flashbacks as recalled by the aged, dying Augustus brilliantly portrayed by Peter O'Toole. It was a time of Rome's greatness and a time of Rome's disintegration. This movie was made with an obvious plentiful budget, sponsored by the Italian government and US filmmakers, and the result is a complex and nicely detailed biographical study of the first Emperor of Rome, Augustus Caesar, the man whose reign spanned the BC/AD time frame with all the attendant changes in world geography and history and religious orders. A good movie trailer never reveals everything. We want them to hook us in quickly and leave us wanting more (to see the whole movie! or, in this case, read the whole book).AUGUSTUS (also known as IMPERIUM: AUGUSTUS) is a film made for television, which could explain how its three and one half hour length would be spread over at least three nights. ![]() ![]() Groups have been busy developing their script, shot lists, finding appropriate music, and figuring out how they can introduce the characters and events of the novel, while also leaving a thing or two for viewers to infer. We'll see how they do! Their final project on-tap is to create an extended movie trailer for Conn Iggulden’s Gates of Rome. How do you get a child or tween interested in Roman history?!? A balance of illustrations, storytelling, and info. Their partner assignment was to create two pages of a children’s book describing a piece of Roman architecture from the Forum. Their individual task has been to answer the question ‘Why is Rome still the Eternal City?’ in a compilation of photos, video clips, and interview(s). No, Caligula, a horse cannot be in your senate! And don’t get us started on Nero… (#pyro)įor the remainder of this afternoon and early evening the crew has their work cut out for them with a few media-related assignments for English and Classics. Like a young racehorse, it started strong but finished weak. Which brings us to today’s history lesson, in front of the Pantheon, where the class is currently taking a note about the rest of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. But for all of his political acumen, administrative genius, and military clout, he really sucked at making babies! The works and deeds of Augustus have never been surpassed by any world leader anywhere (we listen to the argument for Napoleon, but…). Octavian (Augustus!) began his grand adventure as the great nephew of the mighty Caesar but finished it as the man who ushered in the empire’s greatest period of peace and prosperity, and he quite literally transformed this city from one made of brick to one of marble. But as good as Caesar ever was, it took but one generation for his legend to be eclipsed - this time by a thin, sickly, super-nerd. Easily on par with any general before or since, Caesar’s campaigns through Gaul, Germania, and even Britain are a masterclass in speed, organization, leadership, and spin-doctoring. ![]() Students were introduced to Veni, Vidi, Vici himself - Gaius Julius Caesar - as we sat in the shade of the cypress trees overlooking the basilica he built and the very sands upon which Mark Anthony gave his famous speech (not Shakespeare’s “Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your ears!” but the actual funeral oration). Averaging over 10km / day of walking, we now understand why the Romans made such good sandals! From exploring the Colosseum and Roman Forum, to walking along the Tiber to Ara Pacis and the Spanish Steps, to this morning’s lecture over at the Pantheon, not to mention the students running around in the afternoons for their photo-video essays and Gates of Rome movie trailers… it’s no wonder our feet can't shuffle another step by dinner each day. The last few days have been an exercise in… exercise. At first glance, it just sounds like a bunch of ridiculous names, but their importance to this city and Roman history has consumed our morning lectures, assignments, and activities thus far.
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