{"id":1890,"date":"2023-03-23T00:00:02","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T23:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gretchenfilm.com\/?post_type=avada_portfolio&p=1890"},"modified":"2023-11-13T02:10:57","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T01:10:57","slug":"seneca","status":"publish","type":"avada_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/gretchenfilm.com\/en\/portfolio\/seneca\/","title":{"rendered":"Seneca"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Robert Schwentke\u2019s years of research into Roman history \u2013 and an exciting collaboration with John Malkovich \u2013 has created a unique work in Seneca \u2013 On the Creation of Earthquakes, a surprising film in content and style that resonates with contemporary politics. Schwentke surrounds the great master with a new generation of talented German actors (Louis Hofmann, Alexander Fehling, Lilith Stangenberg, Tom Xander) as well as with the wonderful Geraldine Chaplin. \/\/ berlinale.de<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Synopsis<\/h2><\/div>

Rome in 65 AD, the philosopher Seneca has been Emperor Nero\u2018s teacher, a callow, self-involved, emotionally volatile boy, gets some bad news from the office upstairs: Nero believes (wrongly, it turns out) that Seneca was part of a plot against his life. (Though Seneca was affiliated with the conspirators, there is no real evidence that he was part of the conspiracy.) Seneca is told: Go home, gather your family and friends and take your life tonight\u2014the way you want to do it. Or, on the other hand, we will show up at your door tomorrow morning\u2026and we will dispatch you.<\/p>\n

And you\u2019re not going to like that.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Swiftly accepting his fate, Seneca decides this is an opportunity to swing for the fences\u2014for eternity, that is. He is going to go out like Socrates: gathering a small party of friends (social-climbing hangers-on, to be cruelly blunt) and giving them his life\u2019s philosophy. After that, he shall open his wrists\u2014and his place in history will be cemented forever.<\/p>\n

He does exactly that. Except\u2026he doesn\u2019t die. And so, he gives another soaring speech and makes another game attempt at opening his arteries. He\u2019s old, he\u2019s skinny, it\u2019s like he has sawdust in his veins: he just won\u2019t die. Bring the hemlock! This, too, is an epic fail. And on it goes\u2026<\/p>\n

ON THE CREATION OF EARTHQUAKES is a miniaturized epic comedy about one man\u2019s very flawed attempt to become immortal through language and ideas. It is also about what happens when the most thinking and feeling people in the World butt up against real barbarians\u2026 who unmistakably and horrifyingly play to win.<\/p>\n<\/div>

External Links<\/h2><\/div>