Yes, I don't remember the book very clearly, but I know that at the time when I read it we were still being taught in school that the Romans were the direct progenators of everything that was good about our society, and that we were carrying on the torch of civilization that they passed. And that nothing else interesting happened until the Tudors. Her pro-Roman views were very much the air I breathed at that time - and that was what made her understanding that the Celts had their own good reasons to resist Rome, and that they too could be proud, honourable and good people resonate that much more strongly with me. It was quite a revelation at the time.
But yes, I think I was really hoping for the story as you describe it - people becoming friends despite the differences of their cultures, and the film didn't convince me that that had actually happened. It seemed to me that Esca had to give up everything for Marcus' sake, but Marcus didn't have to give anything back at all.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2011-04-21 04:53 pm (UTC)But yes, I think I was really hoping for the story as you describe it - people becoming friends despite the differences of their cultures, and the film didn't convince me that that had actually happened. It seemed to me that Esca had to give up everything for Marcus' sake, but Marcus didn't have to give anything back at all.