Socrates

The opening scene shows the Spartans razing the city walls, a dramatic gesture of victory after the Peloponnesian War. This act ushers in the tyrannical regime of the Thirty Tyrants, who tighten their grip on the city. The political shock reverberates through Athenian society from the start.

The new government tightens its grip on Athens, triggering turmoil and fear. The city becomes a battleground between loyalty to reform and the harsh rule of tyranny. This period sets the stage for a liberation struggle that will soon unfold.

Although the tyrants are toppled by the following year, democracy is not fully restored; Athens remains volatile and divided. The population struggles with memory of the tyranny while equating reform with risk. The film frames this tense climate as the backdrop to Socrates’ life.

Socrates is introduced as a seventy-year-old philosopher who teaches daily to a large circle of young followers. He pursues philosophical inquiry amid social turmoil, modeling a life devoted to questioning and dialogue. The portrayal emphasizes his commitment to virtue over wealth or power.

Throughout the film, scenes reference Hippias Major, Euthyphro, Republic, Crito, Apology, and Phaedo to illustrate his method. These excerpts show the use of dialogue, irony, and maieutics as ways to seek truth. They reveal philosophy as a practice of questioning and examining assumptions.

A detractor quotes The Clouds, Aristophanes’ comedy that paints Socrates as a scoundrel and sophist. The reference signals how public perception can shape a person’s fate. The film uses it to contrast popular ridicule with Socrates’ serious search for virtue.

The philosopher lives in poverty with his wife Xanthippe and three children, illustrating the tension between household duties and philosophical work. She criticizes him for wasting time on questions rather than providing for the family. This domestic strain underscores the contrast between his public intellectual status and private hardship.

Even after the fall of the Thirty, Athenians become less tolerant of critics who challenge official culture and tradition. The climate of suspicion makes Socrates vulnerable to accusations and a trial in the court of public opinion. The film portrays this atmosphere as essential to understanding his fate.

Socrates faces formal charges that he corrupted the young and disrespected the gods. The accusation arises from a charged political moment and a desire to silence dissent. The trial marks the collision between philosophy and Athenian law.

In the Apology, Socrates delivers a calm, lucid defense that reframes his mission as a public service of truth. He refuses prison or exile and proposes to be honored as a virtuous citizen if punished. His stance embodies his belief that one should respect the laws even when they lead to an undesired outcome.

The jury convicts Socrates and imposes the death penalty by hemlock. He accepts the verdict with stoic resolve, choosing not to escape and upholding his conviction that justice requires compliance with the city’s laws. The scene underscores his commitment to moral law over personal survival.

Socrates drinks the poison and faces death with philosophical composure. Even in his last moments, he speaks with friends about life, death, and the immortality of the soul. The ending crystallizes the film’s meditation on virtue, wisdom, and the fate of a life devoted to questions.