Polycarp

Before writing this review I checked Wikipedia out for Polycarp and found his birth and death years. He was a remarkable 86 years old when he was martyred and I have to say that Garry Nation who did a fine job in this film in the title role did not look anything like 86.

This is not a linear biography of Polycarp of Smyrna. The film is seen through the eyes of Aliya Hunt who was bought at a slave market as a child and the life of Polycarp in his final dozen years or so is seen through her eyes.

Hunt is bought by Christians at the market to be set free and raised within the community. Back then they really believed it took a village. Head of the growing but still persecuted Christian community is Polycarp the bishop. Now he's revered as one of the founders of the Eastern Orthodox church.

Until Emperor Constantine became a Christian, Rome alternately relaxed and persecuted religious minorities. The current governor of Smyrna Gary Boesek has decided to turn up the heat particularly on the point of now worshiping Caesar as a god. Not something Polycarp can tolerate.

This was a good film and well cast. I would also like to single out for praise Rusty Martin as teenage Germanicus, a kid who enters martyrdom in the arena. It's a simple, unaffected, and moving bit of acting.

Polycarp should get more than church basement showings.