fourth-century Rome, the decline of the empire is palpable in Alexandria. Here, Hypatia (Rachel Weisz), a respected philosopher of the Neo-Platonic school, educates her students. Olivius (Oscar Isaac) is captivated by her and repeatedly expresses his affection, even boldly declaring his love in the theater. The slave Darius (Max Minghella) also harbors feelings for Hypatia but, due to his lowly status, remains silent.
Meanwhile, the teachings of Christianity espousing freedom spark a crisis within Darius' beliefs, leading to his brutal punishment. Hypatia tends to his wounds and consoles him spiritually. As political tensions rise in Alexandria, driven by Neo-Platonism's rebellion, Christianity gains ground, culminating in a fierce confrontation between the two ideologies at the Great Library of Alexandria.
Eventually, an order is issued by Roman authorities for the expulsion of Neo-Platonists from the library, allowing Christians to take their place, thus triggering a brutal upheaval......
This film was screened out of competition at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. The filming locations included the Fortress of Rabanastre in Malta, where portions of 'Gladiator' and 'Troy' were also filmed. Originally, Hypatia was to be played by Nicole Kidman, but due to her portrayal of an antagonist in 'The Golden Compass,' she faced backlash from Christian audiences, resulting in a recast.
