Romulus and Remus, two shepherds and loyal brothers, end up taking part in a journey that will lead one of them to be the founder of the greatest nation ever seen. However, the fate of the chosen one will pass from killing his own brother.
I love a good sword-and-sandal historical epic. From crowd-pleasers like “Gladiator” to the primordial madness of “Valhalla Rising,” “The First King” lays somewhere in between those two very different takes. Just last year I listened to the enthralling “History of Rome” podcast, so you can bet this film is in my wheelhouse.
The story begins with the two shepherding brothers Romulus (Alessio Lapice) and Remus (Alessandro Borghi) surviving a flash flood that kills their sheep and nearly themselves. They are soaked and weak and are then immediately beaten and imprisoned alongside several other men. They are taken to Alba Longa, an ancient Latin City, later destroyed by the Roman Empire. The group is forced to march in bondage nearly naked across a mountain range and presented to a woman draped in red clothing who’s a Vesta priestess. At her behest, Romulus and Remus are forced to engage in brutal gladiator duels with other fellow unlucky prisoners. The two brothers form a plan and make a thrilling escape, during which Romulus is stabbed in the stomach which looks like one of the most realistic cuts I’ve ever seen on film. They capture the priestess and with other escapees begin a perilous journey on the run from Alba’s White Knights.
Their path leads them through fog-enveloped forests and dark swamps further into the unknown, during which Remus carries his wounded brother. After proving himself worthy, Remus declares himself King of the ragtag escapees. They endure intense battles with warrior pagans and enlisted knights. After taking refuge in a small village, the priestess makes a foreboding omen, to build an empire greater than anyone has ever witnessed, one brother must kill the other.
The dialogue is Proto-Italic, further entrenching the film’s accuracy capturing the time period’s dialect. The characters are covered in dirt and look like they are actually on location. The story’s pacing is spot on and has equal measures bliss, reflection, and sheer thrills. The action scenes are violent but gorgeously framed and the choreography is so well staged that all of it looks authentic. I loved the cinematography, sumptuously formulated in 2:35:1 aspect ratio, the use of light, fog, fire, and other elements make this a true earthly feast for the eyes.
The film’s star, Alessandro Borghi, is one of the best working actors around. His work in “Suburra,” both the series and movie, is really worth checking out if you haven’t already. He’s got this charisma that’s unique, he reminds me of an Italian Ryan Gosling and the filmmakers couldn’t have made a better casting choice. There have been so many Hollywood iterations it’s a relief to see an actual Italian production handling a Roman historical epic. For historical action fans, this isn’t to be missed.
Available on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD September 24th
