The Centurion (film)
Centurion is a 2010 British historical action film directed by Neil Marshall. It stars Michael Fassbender, Olga Kurylenko, and Dominic West. The film follows Quintus Dias, a Roman centurion, as he leads a small band of survivors through enemy territory after a devastating Pictish ambush wipes out the majority of their legion in AD 117.
Plot:
The film is a fictionalized account of the Ninth Legion's disappearance in Roman Britain. General Titus Flavius Virilus (West) commands the Ninth Legion to march north and crush the Picts, a fierce and rebellious tribe. A Pictish scout, Etain (Kurylenko), who harbors a deep-seated hatred for the Romans after they wronged her, leads the legion into a deadly ambush. Virilus is captured, and almost the entire legion is slaughtered. Quintus Dias (Fassbender), the legion's only surviving officer, leads a small group of soldiers in a desperate attempt to escape back to Roman territory. They are relentlessly pursued by Etain and a band of Pictish warriors. The film depicts their brutal struggle for survival as they face betrayal, harsh terrain, and the unrelenting fury of the Picts.
Cast:
- Michael Fassbender as Quintus Dias
- Olga Kurylenko as Etain
- Dominic West as General Titus Flavius Virilus
- Noel Clarke as Macros
- Liam Cunningham as Brick
- David Morrissey as Bothos
- Imogen Poots as Arianne
- JJ Feild as Thax
Production:
The film was shot primarily in Scotland and Pinewood Studios. Neil Marshall, known for his horror and action films, aimed to create a gritty and realistic portrayal of Roman Britain.
Reception:
Centurion received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its action sequences and atmosphere, while others criticized its historical inaccuracies and thin plot. The film was a moderate success at the box office.
Historical Accuracy:
While based on the historical mystery of the Ninth Legion's disappearance, Centurion takes significant liberties with the historical record. The specific events depicted in the film are fictionalized, and the portrayal of the Picts is often romanticized. The exact fate of the Ninth Legion remains a subject of historical debate.