Caligula with Mary Beard (TV Movie 2013)

Caligula with Mary Beard: Directed by Hugo Macgregor. With Mary Beard. Two thousand years ago one of history’s most notorious individuals was born. Professor Mary Beard embarks on an investigative journey to explore the life and times of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus – better known to us as Caligula. Caligula has now become known as Rome’s most capricious tyrant, and the stories told about him are some of the most extraordinary told about any Roman emperor. Piecing together the evidence, Mary puts Caligula back into the context of his times to reveal an astonishing story of murder, intrigue and dynastic family power. Above all, she explains why Caligula has ended up with such a seemingly irredeemable reputation. In the process, she reveals a more intriguing portrait of not just the monster, but the man.

“A fascinating investigation about a man with one of the most darker fame. More than a documentary, a delicate – precise fall of the prejudices, lies, apparences and myths, lies and pressupositions. Result – a large, amazing portrait of a young leader in the context of his period. The darkness remains but it keeps other nuances. The well known Caligula becomes the young and not so lucky Gaius . The story, yes, indeed, it is different. But the monsters are not ignored, the conflics and shadows are not hidden. So, precious history lesson.”