Agora is a 2009 Spanish English-language historical drama film directed by Alejandro Amenábar and written by Amenábar and Mateo Gil. The biopic stars Rachel Weisz as Hypatia, a mathematician, philosopher, and astronomer in late 4th-century Roman Egypt. Surrounded by religious turmoil and social unrest, Hypatia struggles to save the knowledge of classical antiquity from destruction. Max Minghella co-stars as Davus, Hypatia’s father’s slave, and Oscar Isaac as Hypatia’s student, and later prefect of Alexandria, Orestes.
One of the biggest European productions of all time, Agora was shot in Malta in 2008. Two massive film sets were constructed at Fort Ricasoli in Kalkara and the picturesque village of Marsaxlokk. Production lasted 11 months and involved over 900 crew and 35,000 extras daily.
