JULIUS CAESAR
US, 2002, 180 minutes, Colour.
Jeremy Sisto, Richard Harris, Christopher Walken, Valeria Golina, Chris Noth, Pamela Bowen, Heino Ferch, Sean Pertwee, Ian Duncan, Jay Roden.
Directed by Ulli Edel.
Julius Caesar was made for television and screened as a miniseries originally. It was edited for film length screening.
Direction is by the German Ulli Edel, responsible for strong films like Christiana F and Last Exit from Brooklyn in the 1970s and 80s. His Hollywood career was more commonplace with a number of miniseries as well as the Madonna thriller, Body of Evidence.
The film is lavish in its presentation, creation of Roman sets, scenes in Caesar’s war in Gaul, Caesar’s visit to Egypt and encounter with Cleopatra.
Jeremy Sisto is quite effective as Caesar, a more interior Caesar gradually bursting forth with rather overweening ambition leading to his assassination. Three years earlier Jeremy Sisto had been effective in the television film, Jesus.
The film was Richard Harris’s last on-screen appearance and he chews up the scenery as the Roman dictator, Sulla. Sisto adopts something of an English accent but Christopher Walken as Cato and Chris Noth as Pompey are more American. Italian actress Valeria Golina is Calpurnia and there is a range of international supporting cast from Italy, England and South Africa.
The film takes us through Caesar’s career as a young man threatened with death by Sulla, saved by Pompey, going into exile, returning home and establishing himself as a political presence, wanting to get Pompey’s legions, which he does, and going for many years to conquer the Gauls, sometimes quite brutally. His confrontation with the Gaul Vercingetorix is a strong facet of the film. (And the Asterix stories take up in comic fashion these episodes of the Gallic Wars.)
The film shows Caesar crossing the Rubicon, becoming a dictator in Rome, Pompey’s death at the hands of the Egyptians trying to please Caesar, Caesar’s marriage to Calpurnia but his ambitious liaison with Cleopatra – and, ultimately, Brutus and Cassius and the conspirators killing him. Marc Antony appears as the friend of Caesar and his supporter.
For many, their knowledge of Caesar comes from Shakespeare’s play. This film incorporates some of these elements but is a popular version of the story (and criticised by historians for its inaccuracies).
1.The popularity of stories of Julius Caesar, audience interest? Ancient Rome? Knowledge of Caesar from Shakespeare, other sources, Caesar and Cleopatra?
2.The scope of the film, the forty years of Caesar’s life? The length of the film, the range of locations, Rome, the sea, Bathynia, Gaul, Egypt? The sets, costumes and décor? The musical score?
3.The issues of historical accuracy? History, documentary or stylised drama?
4.Jeremy Sisto as Caesar, as young, ageing, the older Caesar and his character, the change of character? Idealist, persecuted, ambitious, growing more dominating and ambitious, wanting control, dictator? His relationship with his wife and daughter, their deaths? The help from Calpurnia, love, marriage? His betraying her? Cleopatra?
5.The opening with Sulla, his role in Rome, his army, the return to Rome, with Pompey? His persecuting of his enemies, dictator, his confrontations with the Senate? His confrontation with Caesar, impressed by him, ordering his death? Pompey bringing the heart, his throwing it to the dogs? Sulla’s ranting, his power, his sudden death?
6.Pompey, his relationship with Sulla, obeying him, giving up his wife? His being impressed by Caesar, not killing him, allowing him to leave, bringing an animal heart to Sulla? Caesar’s return and their friendship? His love for Julia, the marriage? The Senate acclaiming Pompey as a hero? Caesar affirming him? The confrontation with the pirates and their defeat, Pompey’s return, the praise? Caesar asking him for the legions and Pompey’s giving them?
7.The contrast with Cato, in the Senate, the other senators, the speeches, Sulla and his condemnation of the Senate, their not representing the people? Pompey and his respect for the Senate? Caesar’s presence, dominating, rebelling? Cato and his confrontations with Caesar, the army, Cato’s suicide?
8.Pompey, his marriage, Julia dying in childbirth, his grief? The change of attitude, the influence of Cato, going to fight Caesar, going to Egypt, his being killed, his head presented to Caesar?
9.Caesar, the epilepsy, the concern of his mother? His wife, her frailty, her death? Bringing up his daughter? His buying the slave Appollonius? Appollonios teaching Julia, his leaving for the slave revolt, imprisoned, Julia pleading with Pompey for him, his refusal to be freed, his comments on dignity and freedom, crucified with the slaves?
10.Calpurnia, her help for Caesar, love, marriage? Happiness? The years with Caesar’s absence in Gaul, their letters? Cleopatra’s return to Rome, Calpurnia and her stoic response, leaving the reception? Her grief?
11.The scenes in Gaul, the status of Gaul, paying taxes, living in peace? Caesar’s colonial attitudes, conquering the Gauls, his cruelty, the massacres? Caesar using Gaul as a stepping stone to power, the acclaim of the Senate, the acclaim of the Roman people? His confrontation with Vercingatorix, letting him live, his leading the revolution?
12.The siege, the strategies, the lack of food, the soldiers and the soup, Caesar’s speech on loyalty, rousing the troops? Building the walls, the women and children pleading for food, their deaths? Vercingatorix’s troops, the plan, battle? Caesar’s victory? Vercingatorix and his surrender? Being taken to Rome, his plea to Caesar about a dignified death? Caesar allowing it?
13.The issue of the Rubicon, crossing the Rubicon, the politics, Rome being afraid, Caesar’s return as dictator? Marc Antony’s confrontation of the Senate, asking the people for their support?
14.Brutus, his loyalty to Caesar, relationship with Cato? His change of heart, becoming one of the conspirators?
15.The Ides of March, the seer, Cassius and his plans, Brutus, Caesar going to the Senate, Calpurnia and her dream, her warning, Caesar in the Senate, the assassins killing him, the other senators fleeing?
16.The aftermath of Caesar’s rule? Octavius taking over and becoming the emperor Augustus?
