This scene from the film Gladiator encases the most famous line of the movie: "Are you not entertained?" It is a medium shot of Maximus after his first solo gladiatorial fight. The shot is at eye level with Maximus dead center. The scene conveys the power and strength he holds in his central positioning as well as his outstretched arms. The fact that his body takes up the majority of the room in the shot also underscores this idea. He is in typical gladiatorial slave garb with his leather armor and simple tunic underneath, which convey his new status. Maximus' body language and facial expression communicate his anger and frustration, as everything he cared for has been taken from him and now his noble profession is turned into a side show. This scene captures much of the emotional torture going on within Maximus and reveals a lot about his strong character.
It also represents a resistance to the Roman hedonism and extravagance on display. He is resisting their love of gladiators and their "panem et circuses." What we don't see is that the crowd seems to love this.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments, Kim and Bryce! I find it interesting to develop this even further and think about how Maximus' words may relate to the cinema audience that apparently also enjoys watching excessive violence. Are we any better than the Romans?
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