Good evening, attendees of this week's EST edition of #ABCC #abcc-watchparty Tonight's film is Troy, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and released in 2004. It is, in theory, a film about the Trojan War. More specifically, it is a film about what happens when you combine kings, warriors, gods—or at least the considerable absence thereof—romance, pride, political ambition, and several men with an almost pathological commitment to proving themselves. The story is built from considerably older material, of course, but this particular interpretation is less interested in divine intervention and more interested in the humans left to make catastrophically consequential decisions on their own. Which is arguably more frightening. There are battles, sieges, betrayals, elaborate speeches about honor, and enough beautifully oiled musculature to make the Bronze Age seem suspiciously well-lit. But beneath the spectacle is a story about reputation, mortality, love, duty, and the rather strange human desire to be remembered after we are gone. What does it actually mean to be a hero? Is glory worth the price demanded for it? And how much suffering can be justified in the name of pride? I recommend allowing yourself to enjoy the spectacle while keeping an eye on the people underneath it. The swords are quite impressive, certainly, but the consequences of wielding them are considerably more interesting. Please enjoy the ancient world demonstrating, with remarkable efficiency, that humanity has apparently been making the same mistakes for several thousand years. Remember that tonight it is optional #substance night. Bring your finest wine, or perhaps a cask of zythos, and #getin. Showtime is at 7 EST.
