Are you not entertained?

by Ben Soton

What did the Romans ever do for us? We remember the roads, the sanitation, law and order, and the monumental architecture that tourists still gape at to this day. But behind the facade of Greco-Roman civilisation there is a darker side – the legions, the crucifixions and the amphitheatres where prisoners were thrown to the lions for the amusement of the crowds and matched pairs fought, often to the death, in “games” that gave true meaning to a Roman holiday.
So what was Rome?  Was it simply a free trade zone covering an area from Scotland to Iraq; where most of its inhabitants toiled either as slaves, or at best plebs, whilst a few at the top lived a life of opulent luxury?  Or is Rome an idea based on honour that gives hope and freedom to its inhabitants provided it is properly run. This is the point espoused in Gladiator 11, Ridley Scott’s latest blockbuster.      
Gladiator II is set several years after the original film during the reign of Caracalla and Geta, two brothers who were joint emperors.  The opening scenes show the Roman conquest of Numidia; a major inaccuracy as the region in north Africa was taken during the Roman Republic, several hundred years before 211 AD, the date shown in the film.  The central character, played by Paul Mescal, is brought to Rome as a slave after heroically failing to defend hearth and home. There he becomes a key feature of Rome’s gladiator scene and is given the name Hanno. 
The film has many similarities with the first Gladiator (2000).  A number of the original cast make a return – most notably Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus and Connie Nielson as Lucilla.  The battle scenes involve extensive use of CGI and AI but are none the less highly realistic, if not historically accurate.  The scenes in the Colosseum point towards European and in particular Italian fascism originating in Classical Rome. And the overriding theme is very much the same; one man’s struggle to survive in the arena and attempts by better and honourable sections of the elite to remove a corrupt and degenerate emperor or emperors. 
Once again, we see Gracchus and Lucilla, who represent the better section of the ruling class, conspire against the dual emperors.  An addition to the film is the character of Macrinus, played by Denzel Washington.  He is a former slave, not from the elite, who wishes to usurp power for himself; although is this not what Gracchus and Lucilla are doing?  Meanwhile Hanno, who is no ordinary prisoner of war and has an interesting back story, becomes embroiled in this web of intrigue.  
The film promotes the notion that empires are great, provided they are run by the likes of Gracchus and Lucilla. Meanwhile the masses, be they Colosseum goers or gladiators are simply there to side with one or other section of the elite.  The recent US election comes to mind...