Where better to watch the blockbuster film Gladiator than in an actual Roman amphitheater?
The Circus Maximus in Rome is set to screen Ridley Scott’s epic historical drama in high definition on an outdoor screen. The special screening will take place on 8 and 9 June, and will be accompanied by a live orchestra conducted by Justin Freer and 200 musicians of the Italian Film Orchestra.
Australian singer Lisa Gerrard, who also served as co-composer on the movie’s soundtrack alongside Hans Zimmer, will also participate in screening. A charity preview of the show will be held at the Colosseum on June 6 for a much smaller audience.
The Circus Maximus, or Circo Massimo, was largest chariot racetrack in ancient Rome, once capable of holding over 250,000 people.
The Modern Gladiator
Despite taking place in Rome, the 2000’s Gladiator was actually filmed in England, Morocco, and Malta. The iconic Colosseum was constructed through a mix of miniatures and computer-generated imagery on screen.
In the film, Russell Crowe portrays the fictional Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general who becomes a slave, and then a gladiator. He is loosely based on historical figures such as Narcissus, Claudius Pompeianus, and Spartacus. The vengeful Commodus, son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, kills his father and Maximus’ family and seizes the throne. Maximus eventually avenges these murders in the gladiatorial arena.
Upon its release, the film won five Academy Awards, including those for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Costume Design, and Best Visual Effects.
Gladiator is one of the most visceral stories told on film, and seeing it with a live chorus in the very sites the ancient Romans battled one another, is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tickets for both evenings are on sale, ranging in price from €45 to €250, depending on how close your seat is.
