The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)

I start by saying ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy” is an excellent movie about Michelangelo’s life, focusing on his struggles to paint the Sistine Chapel.

It starts with a short documentary (around 10 minutes) as a tribute to Michelangelo’s work.

The plot follows the conflict between Michelangelo and Pope Julius II, a conflict between two stubborn men who try to make each other respect their decisions. While Pope was more a general army than a pope, Michelangelo was not willing to bend to the orders of the pope, as much as to follow his inspiration.

Though Michelangelo was not happy to start painting the chapel, he was almost forced by Pope to finish painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling. A similar action is carried out in reverse when Michelangelo almost forced Pope to get out of his bed when most were believing he was going to die.

Imagine de Thierry Milherou de la Pixabay 

The movie also gives a glimpse of the real face of religion. On one side, there is preaching love in the church, and on the other side is conducting wars and killing people.

“The Agony and the Ecstasy” is a movie about love and hate, mortality and glory, creation and destruction, and the fight between a temperamental artist and a despotic ruler. It is also a movie about the act of creation that is “an act of love”, about the “agony and ecstasy” of love.

It is an excellent movie about a great artist and his great work despite everything he encounters to finish it.

Love is the language of the blood. It is neither cold nor indifferent. It is either agony or extasy, sometimes both at once.

The Agony and the Ecstasy

Love, Manuela

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