Review of The First King

Matteo Rovere has achieved a difficult task: rewrite the well known legend of the foundation of Rome, in the past seen in peplum productions, with academic consultants, knowledgeable and enthusiastic professionals and limited budget and make a powerful movie quite different from the current Italian scene. We follow the Romulus and Remus brothers from a sudden disruption of their lives as shepherds to the final tragedy leading to the foundation of the eternal city. There is an intense effort to be as authentic as possible: all the locations are near Rome, sounds chosen and edited to be consistent with the historical environment, wood and hay huts, simple basic clothes and weapons. Sometimes one wonders they really were so primitive, but I noticed that knights from the etruscan city of Alba have more elaborate weapons. Even more important, the actors speak original Paleo Latin with subtitles, a choice I had enjoyed in movies like The Passion and Apocalypto. Pervasive violence and correct emphasis on the paramount importance of religion able to have a strong influence on men's decisions. Excellent photography (always in natural light!) evocative music score and at times moving scenes, at least for a lover of Roman history like me. The actors are excellent in their roles. This movie should have worldwide recognition.