Agony and Ecstasy: Meaning

The film "Agony and Ecstasy" is a great classic of cinema, which tells the story of the phase when Michelangelo Buonarroti, was hired by the then Pope Julius II, to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Michelangelo, whose role is played by the important actor Charlton Heston, who was then only a sculptor, is forced to work and reaches the ecstasy of one of the greatest works of humanity. To interpret the painter faithfully, the actor put a steel rod in his nose to make him look like Michelangelo's broken nose.

Scene 1 - Agony and Ecstasy - Michelangelo — Scene that depicts how Michelangelo used the technique of fresco in the paintings of the Sistine Chapel

One of the main characters, Pope Julius II, is played divinely by Rex Harrison. Everything revolves around the two, the artist and the pope, when the latter hires Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the new chapel that makes up the Vatican, in honor of Sixtus IV (Julius II was Sixtus' nephew).

In the face of the power of the Church, which, through its dogmas, commanded souls and the world, especially in the 16th century, Michelangelo, accepted the commission, despite being contrarian, since he considered himself more of a sculptor than a painter. But, in the face of the good amount of money for the work and treating it as a work commissioned by the Pope, Michelangelo takes on the challenge. Thus, the works begin, which would last for four long years, to reveal on the ceiling of the chapel the nine episodes of the Genesis.

Pope Julius II was aware of Michelangelo's genius. And almost every night, he would visit the Chapel to see the progress of the work and indulge in the beauty of it.

Tormented, in creative crisis, Michelangelo decides to abandon the project and throws paint over everything that had already been done and flees. Not accepting the situation, the Pope orders that he be found at any cost.

The papal guards find the genius Renaissance artist in Carrara (from where the names of the marbles come), where he had been captured and brought back to the Chapel to complete his work. Michelangelo returns and, as the film's title says, he agonized to finish a work that seemed endless. He even got sick, bedridden, but continued his mission until the end, when he obtained the ecstasy of his extraordinary work.

The Sistine Chapel was considered simple in terms of architecture, although inspired by ancient Greek temples. However, after Michelangelo's paintings, it became one of the most valuable treasures of humanity and currently houses the Conclaves, the ritual of the Catholic Church when the cardinals meet to choose a new Pope.

TITLE: Agony and Ecstasy (The Agony and the Ecstasy, USA / Italy, 1965).

Direction: Carol Reed.
Screenplay: Philip Dunne, based on the work of Irving Stone.
Music: Original: Alex North, Jerry Goldsmith, Franco Potenza.
Cinematography: Leon Shamroy. Editing: Samuel E. Beetley.

Cast: Charlton Heston (Michelangelo Buonarroti), Rex Harrison (Pope Julius II), Diane Cilento (Countess of Medici), Harry Andrews (Donato Bramante), Alberto Lupo (Duke of Urbino), Adolfo Celi (Cardinal John of Medici), Thomas Milian (the painter Raphael)

Main awards and nominations:

– Nominated for the Oscar: Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Original Score, and Sound Effects.
– Nominated for the Golden Globe: Screenplay, Actor in a Drama (Rex Harrison).
– David di Donatello: Best Foreign Production.