LetsTravelRome

‘Real’ look at ancient Rome

By R. GOWRI

Nov 24:
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WHAT was it like living in ancient Rome during the the days of Julius Caesar and Pompey Magnus? Most of us would have no inkling, apart perhaps from visions of marble columns and graceful buildings and Romans with chiselled features walking about in spotless togas, perhaps even of Elizabeth Taylor as the beautiful and ambitious Cleopatra having liaisons with important Roman leaders.

Hollywood’s romanticisations of Rome’s early days are basically just that — romantic notions. Now if you want to get a load of the real thing, HBO is serving up ancient Rome — much closer to depictions in written records, circa 52 BC. A cosmopolitan metropolis with many of the characteristics of a modern-day city like Mumbai, extreme wealth beside extreme poverty, dirty hovels beside sprawling villas, with every man — ruling class elite, soldier, slave and peasant — embroiled in the politics of the day, or having it touch every aspect of their lives.

But HBO’s Rome is no documentary, it’s an epic unfolding as a drama series, from the high-powered drama of the Senate and the growing enmity between Caesar and Pompey to the subtle dramas playing out in the living rooms and bedrooms of the landed and the plebeian, and not forgetting the more graphic drama in the killing fields and taverns.

We witness political manipulations, ambitious scheming by women, love and passion, gladiator battles and torture. It’s even a bit like Dynasty and Dallas in parts, in a different setting and with far more substance, right there with racy dialogue and plenty of seduction. (Asian viewers will be seeing “edited” screenings suitable to Asian sensibilities though!)

Rome portrays the historical events through the experiences of two soldiers of Caesar’s 13th legion, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo. Each make unlikely companions but have an impact on the other’s life, eventually having to make life-changing decisions and deal with morality issues.

Vorenus (played by Kevin McKidd) also has to “re-connect” with his wife (Indira Varma) whom he has not seen for eight years. And Pullo, returning to the city, can’t stop his womanising and fight-picking adventures.

The historical events serve as a backdrop and a catalyst for the personal stories of everyday life at the time.

Caesar (Ciaran Hinds) has completed his conquest of Gaul, returning to Rome with battle-hardened soldiers, plunder, and a populist agenda for radical social change. The aristocracy is fearful and threatens to prosecute him for war crimes if he enters Rome. Pompey (Kenneth Cranham) is co-consul of Rome and, once, mentor of Caesar and beloved of the aristocrats. There’s also the scheming Atia of the Juli, niece of Caesar (marvellously portrayed by Polly Walker); the impulsive Mark Anthony (James Purefoy); Servilia of the Junii (Lindsay Duncan), the mother of Brutus; and Gaius Octavian (Max Pirkis), the quietly observant great nephew of Caesar and son of Atia.

And so begins the turmoils of the Republic and Rome.

Apart from the impressive picturisation of Rome of old, another asset of the series is its ability to grow on you. The first episode (journalists had a preview of episodes 1, 2 and 3 at a resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand, courtesy of HBO Asia) was admittedly a bit of a slow-starter and confusing to those whose Roman history is scratchy, but by the third episode the characters had already developed beyond expectation, revealing that even the mildest had inner demons to hide and battle. And, by then, you were already anxious to see the fourth.

posted by Les Sheppard @ 2:41 PM