Augustine - The Decline of the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire is under attack from invading armies and from within, Christianity is still seen as a threat and a challenge to Imperial power. In 430 A.D., in the besieged Roman city of Hippo, Augustine tells young Centurion Fabius, leader of the Roman garrison and the son of an old friend, the story of his life. How he had rose to the very height of power serving the young Emperor as court Orator before eventually being converted to Christianity. Augustine born to a humble family had been blessed with an incredible intellect but as a young man he was also driven by ambition. With help from his mother, she had arranged for him to be tutored in Carthage, where he became a gifted and dissolute orator of great repute. Befriending a young Roman nobleman, they both enjoyed the pleasures and rewards that went with power. But to Augustine's surprise he falls in love with a young slave girl that would change his life. Augustine's talents are soon recognised, and he is called to the imperial court to serve the young Roman Emperor as the voice against the formidable and opposing Christian bishop Ambrose who is seen as a threat to the Roman state and the stability to the Empire.
But when the Empress Justina orders Augustine to lead imperial guards to clear out the basilica where Christians meet to practice their faith, after witnessing the violence of the Roman soldiers Augustine in turn is won over by Ambrose to Christianity. Now years later Augustine is Bishop of Hippo, and his precious city is surrounded by a huge Vandal army hell bent on destruction of the city. Augustine urges Fabius and his Roman garrison to negotiate with the Vandal King, but for them their honour and pride demands that they must fight and Fabius believes he must now take the battle to the Vandals as this is the Roman way. The people of Hippo look to Augustine for direction, and he must now do everything he can to protect them and Fabius who has fallen for Augustine's young niece. Can Fabius defend the city and

hold out against the onslaught of the Vandals, and can they be saved in time by the ships that are enroute from Rome to rescue them? Will faith be enough or will the final battle for Hippo see the destruction of everything Augustine believes in and loves?

Director: Christian Duguay
Producer: Martin Choroba
Producer: Luca Bernabei
Producer: Matilde Bernabei
Writer: Francesco Arlanch
Music: Andrea Guerra
Actor: Alessandro Preziosi
Actor: Monica Guerritore
Actor: Franco Nero
Actor: Johannes Brandrup
Actor: Alexander Held
Actor: Katy Louise Saunders