I loved how, instead of just watching Paul walk through Athens and have a voice over explaining, we got to see Eliav explain to us the context and the meaning behind Paul being there. It made me feel a part of the journey
Even though this video was only 16 minutes, I felt captivated the entire time by the amount of information that was outpoured throughout the entire story. I’m fairly unfamiliar with both Paul and his journey, yet by the end of this documentary I felt that I knew Paul and understood his significance to the world. Watching Paul embark on his path through several locations in Athens, including the Acropolis, was a truly enriching experience that will stick with me for a long while.
I was extremely impressed to hear about how much the University of Michigan invested in this movie, and it was really interesting to see how much that money paid off, as well as see everything we had viewed in the behind-the-scenes pay off in the full movie. It's clear how much work and effort went into this from Eliav, but also from every actor and person who was a part of this production. Lastly, I am amazed at how much they fit into a 16-minute movie. I was expecting the movie about such a prominent figure to be at least an hour, but the fact that it's shorter made everything taught so much more impactful.
I love the costumes and the production value in terms of outfits and historical clothing. I not only like Eliav's outfits and the hat he wears, but I love the way that Eliav and his crew put together a Paul that is accurate in its entirety, even clothing.
Tremendous acting by Eliav, it took me until the credits scene to realize that it wasn't actually Tom Hanks. Definitely snubbed an Oscar, blasphemous. This movie taught me a lot about the shifting religious context and views held by the citizens of ancient Athens, specifically about statues. It inspired me to the point where I think I'm going to dress up as Paul for Halloween this year.
The imagery in this video is fantastic. It was so cool to see professor Eliav in the physical locations he is describing and teaching about. He definitely knows how to keep the audience engaged with exciting background music and interesting images and scenery. It was no challenge to try imagining what was really going on at the time of Paul thanks to the acting and settings in this movie.
It's so great to see a visual representation of such an interesting part of history! Having this movie at my disposal as a student significantly helps me mentally paint this image in my own head. Also, it helps me understand where one of the most popular religions across the globe originated from. I'm impressed with the lengths that Eliav and his team will go to educate his students, coworkers, and the remainder of the world on topics that hold historical significance.
I learned so much from this documentary about Paul, not only is the storytelling great and easy to follow, but the scenery and film depicted is realistic to the historical setting. The contrast of acting with clips of more formal educational value is a great way to take in the material but also place yourself in Paul's shoes. I enjoyed the film, found it entertaining, and the perfect length to keep the attention of the viewer for its entirety.
I loved how we had different perspectives while the movie was progressing. Seeing the museum and then the actual architecture in Athens allows the viewer to picture how the sculptures were actually placed around the city. I also like how the actual story with actors was integrated into the movie, while showing the actual artifacts and having Eliav talk. This makes the movie more engaging. It was a pleasure to watch!
I'm really impressed with what's shown here. After watching how they made it and knowing the challenges they faced, it's amazing what they achieved with so little time and money. The costumes look like they're from the right time, everything looks good, the acting is convincing, and the drone shots are super professional. Overall, everyone who worked on this should be proud of what they did.It's cool that you got footage of the museums and Acropolis without any people in the background. It looks like filming was an awesome experience, and it's interesting to watch.
I thought it was so cool to add the nuance of Eliav explaining some of these sites and history. It not only added so much educational value but also reminded us that all history is presented through the eyes of the historian and there is still so much to learn. It also gave me so much more appreciation for historians and archaeologists and the painstaking labor they go through to piece together these incredible stories.
This documentary is a great example of what Eliav always says, "History begins in the present". The demonstration of this can be seen in both Eliav's and Paul's own adventures that seek to give context to past events whose effects are and were being felt in the present, and in Paul's time, in Athens. The fact that such a concept could be packed into a 17-minute documentary is extremely impressive.
Bravo! The performance by the actor portraying Paul was one for the ages. His body language and facial expressions were exquisite; I could truly feel each and every emotion of Paul. A shame the Oscar didn't go to him... one of the biggest snubs of the century
What a wonderful short film! I am so impressed with the acting in this movie. It really helps set the scene in Greece during the time that Paul visited there. This was very informative and captivating work. Being raised Christian, I have grown up hearing the biblical stories of Paul. Hearing and seeing his story be told through a more historical lens rather than a religious one was super interesting. The visuals included in the film were very helpful for understanding his journey. The abundance of maps helped provide geographical context and the various shots of Greek statues helped set the scene. Eliav and the team clearly put so much work into this project and it paid off.
When I think about the greatest appearances in films throughout history Yaron Eliav's masterful performance in short documentary Paul in Athens instantly comes to mind. His elegant ways of describing a story some complex so impactful into a digestible package is like nothing I have ever seen before. What A Film.
Thank you Professor and your team for this wonderful documentary - the more I read Paul and about Paul, the more I am amazed and left speechless by the man, his faith, and his life. Speaking for myself - and I am sure millions (if not billions) would agree - the world and civilization as we know it today is placed in deep debt to this great “Babbler” from the Aeropagus, whose little finger was wiser and more profound than any of the fools detracting him in Athens (and Jerusalem). I will gladly listen to Paul’s “babble” for as long as he would wish to speak it,, and if I were to fall off a window ledge like Euthycus of Troas because of it, I should consider myself very fortunate and blessed by the Son of Man.
I really liked the perspective this movie brought but I especially enjoyed getting to see Eliav without a mask on. It's a shame that since we wear masks in class we don't get to see his true beauty during lectures.
The film's remarkable attention to detail and context goes beyond expectations. The top-notch production, storytelling, voiceovers, and actors all came together seamlessly. It allowed us to perceive Paul as both a historical figure and a relatable human. Additionally, witnessing a visual portrayal of the historical events we study in class was truly satisfying. I think Eliav did an excellent job connecting the past to our current understanding.
From this movie I learned a lot that I had not known before, and this is because of the way that Eliav actually goes to the historical sites he talks about throughout the short film. Instead of there being a voice over of a guy walking around, Eliav actually explains what is happening in these locations. The movie being filmed in the actual historical locations made me more engaged throughout the film and made it easier for me to retain the movie's material. Furthermore, I was extremely impressed by the cinematography of the movie. It's clear and evident the time and effort that it took Eliav and his team to produce this movie.
What a sensational movie produced by Professor Eliav! I thoroughly enjoy how he jumps back and forth between recreating ancient times and the present time, giving the viewer a complete look and understanding of the context while providing great insight and knowledge of the topic of interest.
I was impressed by how much I learned from just a 17-minute long documentary. especially because documentaries like this are usually an hour or longer! I really enjoyed it :)
The decision to film background scenes depicting what Paul actually went through during his journey really helped to bring this movie to life. This creative approach to telling this story really goes to show how passionate everyone involved in this project was to breathe life into the story of Paul.
This film did an excellent job explaining the context for Paul being in Athens. The description of art and architecture in Athens made learning about Paul's journey all that more interesting.
This movie was so amazing and I appreciate the University of Michigan for funding it. This was a very informative and entertaining movie that helped me understand what we were talking about in class. In the last lecture, we left off discussing that Paul came after Jesus. This film is a great supplement for Paul's story. I'm excited to go to class on Monday with all this background information in mind!
I really enjoy how there is a blend of narration by Eliav and acting out of scenes in this film. The acting out of events clearly illustrated how events transpired while Eliav's commentary highlights the impact of each event. The footage of Greece in the film is also impeccable and the drone shots are especially cool. A clear picture of Paul's travels and whereabouts is painted in my head after watching this film. The time and effort spent on making this film is evident, and watching it really enriched my knowledge of Paul and the beginning of Christianity.
I am so impressed with the quality of this. Yaron does a great job not just showing on a map where Paul went, but actually “getting in there,” and showing the historical land points of where he went.
I really enjoyed this movie! I appreciated the variety of different shots/scenes throughout; the reenactments, shots of Eliav, and views of the architecture (especially from the drone). And knowing how much hard work and dedication that was put into this film (via the behind the scenes video) which was made for students like me made me appreciate it even more!
Honestly I'm surprised this movie took $250,000 to make. If I had to guess it must've been due to the cost of travelling to Israel and booking access to the museums and archaeological parks shown in it, as well as buying the boats, creating the props, which all probably stacked up to a quarter of a million dollars. Love the camera angles too, those never dissapoint.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! I appreciated the mix of maps, Eliav’s explanations, and actual re-enactments. That combination made the story straight-forward and left the viewer with a good understanding of Paul’s travels. This was a great way to learn about Paul!
I really enjoyed watching this documentary because it provided me with a visual to better understand the history of St. Paul's visit to the city of Athens in the first century CE. The background music, narration, and different hotspots captured by the camera really made it feel as if I was listening to a story rather than a video of facts!
The immense detail and context that is displayed throughout this film is not only remarkable but also very satisfactory. Not only with the production being top-tier, the storytelling, voice overs, and actors pulled it all together. We were able to see Paul as not only a historical figure but a human as well. It was also very nice to see a visual representation of the historical events and context that we are learning while in class. In conclusion I believe Eliav did a great way in connecting the past to our current knowledge!
The detail is what truly stuck out to me as well. Being a historical film I expected it to be kind of boring but the storytelling was great and accompanied by very real experiences that truly humanize Paul and allows us to form our own opinions of him not only as a historical figure but as a being. The patience Paul embodies truly highlights the narrative of the story. Great film, learned a lot about Paul who I never knew until this class!
This movie taught me a lot about the shifting religious context and views held by the citizens of ancient Athens, specifically about statues. It was really impressive the amount of information that was covered in the short amount of time by Professor Eliav.
The recreations of Paul walking around Athens help paint a vivid picture of what life was like in Athens, and helped me visualize what the region was like during this time. This helps bring the ruins of the ancient city to life, and makes the film so much more engaging than the typical educational videos shown in history classes.
I definitely wasn't expecting the Paul in Athens movie to be like this, but I like that it's a history lesson in action; it brings ancient times to life. When I was younger, I was told the story of Paul - that he was Jewish, persecuted Christians, and then converted to Christianity and spread the Gospel. I find the aspect of eschatology interesting and it makes sense that he would go all over the region to (in his mind) save people from the end of the world. Paul in Athens gives me a newfound appreciation for Paul because, during his journey, he was able to respect and understand other religions and use their beliefs and worship styles to tell them about his God.
The script of this film is true poetry. I appreciate that this film went into great detail to explain the exact context as to how Paul formulated his thoughts and beliefs about Jesus using the context of his time period and his background, instead of automatically using religious reasoning. It made the film more educational and stand out from other films and documentaries about Paul.
Having grown up hearing about the writings of St. Paul and knowing his sayings the insights brought here by Professor Eliav were very new to me. Hearing the context in depth for what St. Paul was saying helped me to understand the motivations behind what St. Paul said. The combinations of culture that St. Paul began and seeing how they contributed to the later spread of Christianity are so much clearer now. Additionally, setting the film split between historical depictions of St. Paul's arrival in Athens and Professor Eliav's explanation made the film so immersive and much more engaging.
This documentary is a great way to follow Apostle Paul's journey in Athens for people who only viewed St.Paul as a Christian advocate. I really loved how the cast and crew were able to take us back to this time period and made it seem realistic as this journey occurred in the first century CE. Great work!
The stunning element of Eliav's explanations regarding these sites and their history was fascinating. It provided substantial educational value while serving as a reminder that history is interpreted through the historian's perspective, leaving much yet to be discovered. This approach also deepened my admiration for historians and archaeologists, acknowledging the meticulous effort they invest in reconstructing these remarkable narratives. It was truly eye-opening to witness the nuanced insights that shed light on these ancient sites, underscoring the dedication required to piece together such incredible stories.
Growing up, I've heard of this "St. Paul", but I never really learned much about him or his history. I really appreciated what Professor Eliav did to really bring the Apostle Paul's story to light. This documentary did an amazing job at putting Paul in a more historical setting, tracing his steps, while simultaneously explaining his motives and actions. Overall, I would 100% recommend this documentary to anyone, to learn a little more about who Paul really was.
Great movie, cant believe eliav made this. Thank you to the crew, the fans, and everyone else in there involvement in making this. We need more of this in modern schooling
Watching Paul in Athens was a great experience. Being able to view Paul within the ancient times and Eliav in the modern time really gave me a comparison of the two different time periods. I truly enjoyed the fact that I got to learn about Paul who I had no prior knowledge on before the class along the passion of Eliav within this subject as dedication made this great for me to watch.
Watching this documentary opened my eyes to the rich history and cultural landscape of Athens during the Roman empire, and Paul’s influence on what would later become known as Christianity. I liked how Professor Eliav and his production team built a holistic narrative of Paul in Athens by incorporating a variety of film styles including a reenactment of Paul’s arrival to Athens, narration over maps/paintings/other visuals, and Professor Eliav talking directly to the audience while located in various influential sites. It was if I was able to travel in Paul’s footsteps across Athens, which helped me understand how influential the environment must have been to his teachings!
This is so amazing! It's truly remarkable how Eliav manages to captivate such a fraction of a valuable historical person in such a short film. The sheer beauty of this film is nothing short of breathtaking, being in the actual locations is my favorite part. It's a testament to the boundless creativity of the Graeco-Roman period and shows the impact of Paul that still exists in our world and will continue to do so.
As a Christian who has read through the book of Acts many times and studied the letters of Paul intensely, this was a very new perspective on his travels to Greece for me. I appreciated how Eliav placed the stories of the Bible amongst other historical sources to develop a full picture of Paul's presence in Athens. Idolatry is a concept that is regularly brought up in the church and the Bible; I was not aware that Paul was the first one to use this term until I watched this documentary. Despite all that I have learned about Paul through the Bible, this documentary certainly provided me with a new view on his importance to Christianity and his significance in the history of the Middle East.
I really admire the artistic decision to have actors to depict Paul"s arrival in Athens, historical dramatizations help me to get into the mindset of the period and comprehend the context in a more beneficial way than just explaining it. I also really enjoyed how it was filmed in actual Athens, this lends validity and authenticity to the ideas discussed making it feel like an academic paper as well as entertainment.
I genuinely am impressed by the final product on display here. After watching the behind the scenes video, and seeing all the obstacles originally in place it’s amazing to see what was accomplished with such little time and money. The costuming seems historically accurate, the quality is great, the acting….works, the overhead drone shoots look super professional, etc… All in all, everyone who worked on this should be very proud of the work they’ve done.
I appreciate how the University of Michigan invested into the creation of this movie. I really enjoy how it incorporates both reenactments of Paul and his journey in Athens, as well as commentary by Professor Eliav. I think that having both of these elements makes the film much more engaging since we are able to visualize Paul and his journey, but also extremely informative as Eliav provides important details and narrative as the story progresses.
tremendous acting and storytelling by Eliav. This footage really made me feel like I was there in the moment with Paul and felt what he was feeling. I was impressed by the sights in Athens they went to, and also the similarities the city showed to cities in the Israel Palestine region like Tel Aviv Yaffo. It is truly incredible how such a short film can encompass so much and teach a lot about a largely unknown but extremely important figure to the history of the world and one of its biggest religions. Truly a great film.
Professor Eliav and his team produced a fantastic documentary, it was insightful and comprehensible. The retelling of Paul’s journey to Athens was convincing because they were able to film in the same locations the biblical Paul preached. The Parthenon in particular was impressive. The reenactments helped me understand the environment of ancient Athens but also the Mediterranean Sea which dominates the region.
I was very impressed by the effort and quality put into this film. The use of the actual settings in the commentary made the experience so much better, and it’s clear that a simple green screen would not do it justice.
The acting is amazing, but what's even better was the directing of this film. Watching this film truly gave me the full experience of being in Athens and seeing the introduction of Christianity fall into place which as a Christian, I was unaware of. 10/10 movie, make another one for us!
It's incredible to see how Paul's actions and his sermon at the Areopagus has impacted modern day Christians to this day. I enjoyed learning about Paul, an important figure in the Bible, in an academic setting while also being knowledgable about the historical context of the events that took place in Athens.
Very well done cinematography! I really loved how much history of Ancient Greece this included, especially the segments where the Acropolis and other Architectural structures has no tourists. This really allows you to see how much these buildings were intricate and wondrous.
I used to believe that Professor Eliav's jokes in class were the extent of his acting, yet I have been completely mistaken. Eliav, in Paul in Athens, allows the viewer to have a first eye view of the architecture, engineering, and culture the Greeks had in Athens. Eliav's tone excites the viewer as he shows how much he cares about the region's history. Viewing this documentary was inspiring as a student of Eliav's. It is clear how much work, time, and effort Eliav put into this. Although Athens is just a fraction of the Mediterranean, I can now tell how influential Athens was to the development of culture in the Israeli region.
I really liked the different sections that this movie was separated into. It kept the movie organized and easy to find for future reference. Professor Eliav really put his all into this movie and it shows! The side comments from him really put the content all together.
I have to say, I really enjoyed this film too. It's not often you come across a documentary that brings history to life in such a vivid way. The mix of scenes and Eliav's insights made it really engaging. We get a taste of the local life, the cityscape, religious practices, and artistic expressions of that time. Seeing those ancient sites against modern Athens was a unique perspective, and it made me appreciate the city's rich history even more. Following Paul's path with Eliav was a great way to connect with the story. All in all, it left me with a deeper understanding of that time and place.
This short film truly captures the essence of Paul's journey in a thought-provoking and visually engaging way. I specifically enjoyed the dual use of graphics and also videos.
I thought it was great how this movie followed Eliav as he walked through different museums and archeological sites in Athens. Instead of just following an actor playing Paul, the movie was able to show artifacts that helped to explain the story and connect it to present day.
I really enjoyed watching my actual professor demonstrate to me one of the more important historical stories in a context like this. I felt as if I was traveling with Eliav and the crew and that means they did a great job connecting with the audience. I am also grateful to have a better understanding of this time in history.
When I was told to watch this movie, I genuinely thought it would be at least an hour long, thinking the content was vast. However, when I found out it was 16 minutes long I wondered how such a character like Paul would be explained in such a short time. However after watching and completing the movie, I believe Eliav went above and beyond expressing Paul and his own passion for Paul.
There were so many intricate aspects to the movie that made this film so entertaining. These include the camera views, maps, architecture, background music, chalkboard graphics, sculptures, worship statues, idolatry, and ancient Greek images of Paul. This film did an outstanding job at filling the wholes of Paul's life that I had after watching the introduction. I think this was a great use of the university's money and did a great job showing the full picture of Paul's insane life. I also really enjoyed the comparisons between now and back in Ancient Western civilization times. Paul really did paved the path for future generations to live in peace with the sculpture environment of our society.
After learning about Paul in Athens in lecture, I thought that this documentary was really helpful in solidifying those concepts and ideas in my head by placing them in a physical context. The documentary was overall very well done and I was impressed by the aerial shots, which really gave a sense of the scope of the land. I also enjoyed Eliav's voiceover and found it soothing to listen to.
I really liked that this movie uses the contextual background to help us understand the chronological setting of the movie. For example, when we are shown the work of art, "School of Athens" which is a very well-known art piece, it helps us understand what Athens was like when Paul arrived.
This was an enlightening documentary about the story of Paul of Tarsus. I learned many things about Paul, his journey, and his significance while watching. Before watching this documentary, I did not know about several important events in Paul's life, such as the Areopagus and his involvement in the cultural evolution around the ideas of statues and their significance. This is a fantastic example of amazing storytelling and an excellent introduction to the story of Paul.
Firstly, I was really impresses with the filming of the documentary. The techniques and transitions used were excellent. Secondly, it is actually incredible to see how determined Paul was. Moving from city to city in the Mediterranean, speaking with different groups of people. Its hard to imagine someone getting up and traveling the region hoping to convince people of the truth, especially in that time.
This film is such an engaging reconstruction of Apostle Paul's journey to Athens. The actor reveals the long-lasting implications of Paul's visit, from the historic significance of archaeological sites to idolatry and the worship of statues. The film is informational and enjoyable, as Professor Eliav walks the audience through the tremendous incidents of ancient times. Something that stood out the most to me was learning about the history of statues and idolatry. The term "idol" is very common, but I had never considered its significance or connection to history.
I loved Eliav took us on this journey and almost made it feel like one of his lectures, something I was pleasantly surprised by given the trailer. It also was very cool to see how Eliav and crew seemingly had the entire Acropolis and the Areopagos all to themselves, which really added to the cinematic excellence in this film.
As someone who has very little knowledge on Christianity, and more specifically on Paul, this short movie gave insight to the story of Paul and how he made such a huge impact on religion and history. Overall, I found this production to be insightful and thought provoking.
I really enjoyed how the storytelling included reenactments by actors, voiceovers, and talking straight to the camera. This mix of different styles, as well as the switches between "ancient" and modern times, really helped to keep the story interesting and the audience entertained. I also liked how the story of Paul was related back to modern times, and explained how this story matters today. Also really enjoyed the views of Athens, moved the city to the top of my travel list!
This film was very educational and taught me a lot about the true story that transpired when the Apostle Paul visited Athens. I liked the style of the film, how it constantly switches from the recreation of Paul's journey in Athens to Eliav's modern day commentary on his journey. This definitely made the film a lot more engaging and also helped me to better understand the significance of the events that transpired.
Eliav's insights regarding the immense significance of Paul professing his ideological revelations, adjacent to the most profound cultural and religious center in Athens, are so profound that he must be added to the great pantheon of philosophers, amongst the likes of Aristotle and Nietzsche. It was rather enthralling, listening about Paul's pivotal stances on idolatry, which increased the appeal of Judaism and Christianity to a wider audience by noting how little one's lifestyle had to change in order to properly worship God.
It is interesting to see Eliav introducing the history and the historical remains and the journey of Paul. The background music and the production also make the film fun to watch!
The views of these ancient historical sites with the backdrop of the modern City of Athens were amazing. It is often easy to forget how these monuments which have stood for thousands of years are embedded in the city like a park or golf course would be in the outskirts. Watching Professor Eliav retrace what is believed to be Paul's path into the city helped me envision Paul's journey and his mindset upon arrival. Athens has always been a place I have wanted to visit someday in the future, and this movie has not only added sites to the list of which I want to visit but it has provided great historical context to the region and its importance to modern Western civilization.
I really enjoyed the film. Having grown up in the Christian church, I never heard this perspective on Paul (shocking, I know). It's really nice to have a professional scholar use actual evidence to provide a realistic narrative on such an important figure.
I hit play on the movie wondering how long my attention span would last, but I was once again welcomed into the ancient world by an intriguing figure, Professor Eliav (and Paul too). The argument Eliav stakes out, the importance of the relationship between the spiritual (religious) and the physical (worship of statues), really contextualized the transition from Greco-Roman polytheism and Jewish monotheism to the birth of Christianity. Once again, I was hooked into another journey in the Mediterranean.
It's honestly amazing to see that the University was able to execute a film like this ( the hundreds of thousands of dollars is a lot of money!). The ability to collaborate with people around the world and travel worldwide proves the universities commitment for global studies. I think that this being narrative really helps the story come together.
I was a fan of how the film bounced back and forth between Paul in ancient times and today where Eliav would explain something. It let the documentary really be able to be in 2 places at once.
Although I have a Catholic Christian upbringing, it was so interesting to see Prof. Eliav talk about the origins of Christianity through a historical lens and through the perspective of Paul; From the film, I have found that sculptures are similar to material culture back in the Bronze Age, where they are indicative of the beliefs of the time and provide a historical account of society at the time.
I really did find the acropolis as such an interesting place. What is very unique is when Eliav mentions the significant detail about Paul and the way he was passionate about religion and sculpture. This part really did spark my interest.
I really enjoyed the different elements incorporated throughout this film. The maps, photos, aerial shots, and the artwork effectively told the story in an engaging and educational manner.
I thought that the video transitioned very well throughout so that we got an in depth explanation of the story of Paul in Athens. There were scenes of Paul wandering, clips of Eliav talking, and a voiceover with several pictures and graphics to further explain the story. It was a very entertaining and insightful movie.
This was such an interesting documentary to watch that had so much information within a 16 minute period! It made me appreciate how much work went into it!
This film was a fantastic way to teach about Paul as he related to Judaism and the shifting religious landscape under the rule of the Romans. It portrayed the significance of his actions in Athens in a way that an article could not have. Particularly, I thought the humble and talented narrator, who looked suspiciously like Dr. Eliav, did a fantastic job at carrying the progression of the movie.
I thought the combination of the voice over, the visual representation of the actor walking through, and the segments of Eliav explaining history led to create a really unique presentation of information that was engaging. I learned a lot.
Before watching this documentary, I saw Paul as a pioneer for Christianity. But Christianity did not exist in the time of Paul. In fact, Paul had no idea that the spread of his beliefs in Jesus as the Messiah would go on to spark the revolution of Christianity (among many other factors). This documentary does a great job in dissecting the life and thought processes of Paul, without the use of anachronism in skewing who Paul was, or what he believed in. Another aspect of the documentary that I enjoyed was the explanation of Paul’s shifting attitude towards idolatry. He concludes that Graeco-Roman statues and graven images can co-exist with Jewish Law. The documentary allowed me to see how this shift in attitude is a way to appeal to the Romans. Also, love the drone shots.
Many professors do not utilize videos or films, because in their opinion, it’s a lesser form of learning. Eliav successfully conveys his message by reenacting Paul’s Journey. I have learned about the apostle Paul in other classes, but I did not know he changed Christianity’s view of statues. By using film Eliav creates a memorable experience.
Wow! We are so fortunate to have such an amazing actor as our professor! Not only was the movie very educational it was also entertaining. The visuals like the maps and traditional photos in the movie really added to the learning.
I really liked getting a closer look at famous monuments and artifacts. It was so interesting to see the mix of the reenactments of history with an explanation of what was happening from Eliav. I think the mix of seeing things live and remade and seeing historical artifacts was the best way to understand what was happening through multiple contexts. You can see how it was designed for a classroom because it was very informative while still being told like a story.
I really admire the camera works and aspects of this film. It definitely helps keep the audience engaged, and will also allow for more creative control over the atmosphere or feel of the documentary. You can tell there was a lot of work put into this film because of the effective and well-placed camera movements make for a professional-quality final product!
I truly enjoyed watching this documentary! I took a course last semester that focused on the Apostle Paul. In this film, I saw many things that paralleled with my course, such as Paul's evangelization of Christianity. This film also put a spin on the perspective of Paul that my course examined last semester. It was intriguing to see the different ways the life of Paul could be explained
It was very interesting not only to see the world of Roman Athens through the eyes of an outsider from the time period, but also to see the story of such an important historical figure such as St. Paul before he gained anywhere near the influence that he has on history and religion today.
I enjoy how descriptive the story of Paul was . Having the walk though Athens and him talk about him as an important part of Christianity is so interesting.
I really like the decision to cut from the depiction of ancient times to modern day Eliav explaining important details and phenomena. Because of this constant transition, I feel that the film retains both engagement and a clear transfer of important information.
I really enjoyed the film's writing, cinematography, and acting. It was really informative for such a short work, and it impressed me with how engaging it was throughout. Props to Eliav and the crew for this.
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I loved how, instead of just watching Paul walk through Athens and have a voice over explaining, we got to see Eliav explain to us the context and the meaning behind Paul being there. It made me feel a part of the journey
Even though this video was only 16 minutes, I felt captivated the entire time by the amount of information that was outpoured throughout the entire story. I’m fairly unfamiliar with both Paul and his journey, yet by the end of this documentary I felt that I knew Paul and understood his significance to the world. Watching Paul embark on his path through several locations in Athens, including the Acropolis, was a truly enriching experience that will stick with me for a long while.
I was extremely impressed to hear about how much the University of Michigan invested in this movie, and it was really interesting to see how much that money paid off, as well as see everything we had viewed in the behind-the-scenes pay off in the full movie. It's clear how much work and effort went into this from Eliav, but also from every actor and person who was a part of this production. Lastly, I am amazed at how much they fit into a 16-minute movie. I was expecting the movie about such a prominent figure to be at least an hour, but the fact that it's shorter made everything taught so much more impactful.
I love the costumes and the production value in terms of outfits and historical clothing. I not only like Eliav's outfits and the hat he wears, but I love the way that Eliav and his crew put together a Paul that is accurate in its entirety, even clothing.
Tremendous acting by Eliav, it took me until the credits scene to realize that it wasn't actually Tom Hanks. Definitely snubbed an Oscar, blasphemous. This movie taught me a lot about the shifting religious context and views held by the citizens of ancient Athens, specifically about statues. It inspired me to the point where I think I'm going to dress up as Paul for Halloween this year.
The imagery in this video is fantastic. It was so cool to see professor Eliav in the physical locations he is describing and teaching about. He definitely knows how to keep the audience engaged with exciting background music and interesting images and scenery. It was no challenge to try imagining what was really going on at the time of Paul thanks to the acting and settings in this movie.
It's so great to see a visual representation of such an interesting part of history! Having this movie at my disposal as a student significantly helps me mentally paint this image in my own head. Also, it helps me understand where one of the most popular religions across the globe originated from. I'm impressed with the lengths that Eliav and his team will go to educate his students, coworkers, and the remainder of the world on topics that hold historical significance.
I learned so much from this documentary about Paul, not only is the storytelling great and easy to follow, but the scenery and film depicted is realistic to the historical setting. The contrast of acting with clips of more formal educational value is a great way to take in the material but also place yourself in Paul's shoes. I enjoyed the film, found it entertaining, and the perfect length to keep the attention of the viewer for its entirety.
I loved how we had different perspectives while the movie was progressing. Seeing the museum and then the actual architecture in Athens allows the viewer to picture how the sculptures were actually placed around the city. I also like how the actual story with actors was integrated into the movie, while showing the actual artifacts and having Eliav talk. This makes the movie more engaging. It was a pleasure to watch!
I'm really impressed with what's shown here. After watching how they made it and knowing the challenges they faced, it's amazing what they achieved with so little time and money. The costumes look like they're from the right time, everything looks good, the acting is convincing, and the drone shots are super professional. Overall, everyone who worked on this should be proud of what they did.It's cool that you got footage of the museums and Acropolis without any people in the background. It looks like filming was an awesome experience, and it's interesting to watch.
I thought it was so cool to add the nuance of Eliav explaining some of these sites and history. It not only added so much educational value but also reminded us that all history is presented through the eyes of the historian and there is still so much to learn. It also gave me so much more appreciation for historians and archaeologists and the painstaking labor they go through to piece together these incredible stories.
This documentary is a great example of what Eliav always says, "History begins in the present". The demonstration of this can be seen in both Eliav's and Paul's own adventures that seek to give context to past events whose effects are and were being felt in the present, and in Paul's time, in Athens. The fact that such a concept could be packed into a 17-minute documentary is extremely impressive.
Bravo! The performance by the actor portraying Paul was one for the ages. His body language and facial expressions were exquisite; I could truly feel each and every emotion of Paul. A shame the Oscar didn't go to him... one of the biggest snubs of the century
What a wonderful short film! I am so impressed with the acting in this movie. It really helps set the scene in Greece during the time that Paul visited there. This was very informative and captivating work. Being raised Christian, I have grown up hearing the biblical stories of Paul. Hearing and seeing his story be told through a more historical lens rather than a religious one was super interesting. The visuals included in the film were very helpful for understanding his journey. The abundance of maps helped provide geographical context and the various shots of Greek statues helped set the scene. Eliav and the team clearly put so much work into this project and it paid off.
When I think about the greatest appearances in films throughout history Yaron Eliav's masterful performance in short documentary Paul in Athens instantly comes to mind. His elegant ways of describing a story some complex so impactful into a digestible package is like nothing I have ever seen before. What A Film.
Thank you Professor and your team for this wonderful documentary - the more I read Paul and about Paul, the more I am amazed and left speechless by the man, his faith, and his life. Speaking for myself - and I am sure millions (if not billions) would agree - the world and civilization as we know it today is placed in deep debt to this great “Babbler” from the Aeropagus, whose little finger was wiser and more profound than any of the fools detracting him in Athens (and Jerusalem). I will gladly listen to Paul’s “babble” for as long as he would wish to speak it,, and if I were to fall off a window ledge like Euthycus of Troas because of it, I should consider myself very fortunate and blessed by the Son of Man.
I really liked the perspective this movie brought but I especially enjoyed getting to see Eliav without a mask on. It's a shame that since we wear masks in class we don't get to see his true beauty during lectures.
The film's remarkable attention to detail and context goes beyond expectations. The top-notch production, storytelling, voiceovers, and actors all came together seamlessly. It allowed us to perceive Paul as both a historical figure and a relatable human. Additionally, witnessing a visual portrayal of the historical events we study in class was truly satisfying. I think Eliav did an excellent job connecting the past to our current understanding.
From this movie I learned a lot that I had not known before, and this is because of the way that Eliav actually goes to the historical sites he talks about throughout the short film. Instead of there being a voice over of a guy walking around, Eliav actually explains what is happening in these locations. The movie being filmed in the actual historical locations made me more engaged throughout the film and made it easier for me to retain the movie's material. Furthermore, I was extremely impressed by the cinematography of the movie. It's clear and evident the time and effort that it took Eliav and his team to produce this movie.
What a sensational movie produced by Professor Eliav! I thoroughly enjoy how he jumps back and forth between recreating ancient times and the present time, giving the viewer a complete look and understanding of the context while providing great insight and knowledge of the topic of interest.
I was impressed by how much I learned from just a 17-minute long documentary. especially because documentaries like this are usually an hour or longer! I really enjoyed it :)
The decision to film background scenes depicting what Paul actually went through during his journey really helped to bring this movie to life. This creative approach to telling this story really goes to show how passionate everyone involved in this project was to breathe life into the story of Paul.
This film did an excellent job explaining the context for Paul being in Athens. The description of art and architecture in Athens made learning about Paul's journey all that more interesting.
This movie was so amazing and I appreciate the University of Michigan for funding it. This was a very informative and entertaining movie that helped me understand what we were talking about in class. In the last lecture, we left off discussing that Paul came after Jesus. This film is a great supplement for Paul's story. I'm excited to go to class on Monday with all this background information in mind!
I really enjoy how there is a blend of narration by Eliav and acting out of scenes in this film. The acting out of events clearly illustrated how events transpired while Eliav's commentary highlights the impact of each event. The footage of Greece in the film is also impeccable and the drone shots are especially cool. A clear picture of Paul's travels and whereabouts is painted in my head after watching this film. The time and effort spent on making this film is evident, and watching it really enriched my knowledge of Paul and the beginning of Christianity.
I am so impressed with the quality of this. Yaron does a great job not just showing on a map where Paul went, but actually “getting in there,” and showing the historical land points of where he went.
I really enjoyed this movie! I appreciated the variety of different shots/scenes throughout; the reenactments, shots of Eliav, and views of the architecture (especially from the drone). And knowing how much hard work and dedication that was put into this film (via the behind the scenes video) which was made for students like me made me appreciate it even more!
Honestly I'm surprised this movie took $250,000 to make. If I had to guess it must've been due to the cost of travelling to Israel and booking access to the museums and archaeological parks shown in it, as well as buying the boats, creating the props, which all probably stacked up to a quarter of a million dollars. Love the camera angles too, those never dissapoint.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! I appreciated the mix of maps, Eliav’s explanations, and actual re-enactments. That combination made the story straight-forward and left the viewer with a good understanding of Paul’s travels. This was a great way to learn about Paul!
I really enjoyed watching this documentary because it provided me with a visual to better understand the history of St. Paul's visit to the city of Athens in the first century CE. The background music, narration, and different hotspots captured by the camera really made it feel as if I was listening to a story rather than a video of facts!
The views they capture of Athens are absolutely stunning. Such a beautiful city that is filled with so many cultural elements.
The immense detail and context that is displayed throughout this film is not only remarkable but also very satisfactory. Not only with the production being top-tier, the storytelling, voice overs, and actors pulled it all together. We were able to see Paul as not only a historical figure but a human as well. It was also very nice to see a visual representation of the historical events and context that we are learning while in class. In conclusion I believe Eliav did a great way in connecting the past to our current knowledge!
The detail is what truly stuck out to me as well. Being a historical film I expected it to be kind of boring but the storytelling was great and accompanied by very real experiences that truly humanize Paul and allows us to form our own opinions of him not only as a historical figure but as a being. The patience Paul embodies truly highlights the narrative of the story. Great film, learned a lot about Paul who I never knew until this class!
This movie taught me a lot about the shifting religious context and views held by the citizens of ancient Athens, specifically about statues. It was really impressive the amount of information that was covered in the short amount of time by Professor Eliav.
The recreations of Paul walking around Athens help paint a vivid picture of what life was like in Athens, and helped me visualize what the region was like during this time. This helps bring the ruins of the ancient city to life, and makes the film so much more engaging than the typical educational videos shown in history classes.
I definitely wasn't expecting the Paul in Athens movie to be like this, but I like that it's a history lesson in action; it brings ancient times to life. When I was younger, I was told the story of Paul - that he was Jewish, persecuted Christians, and then converted to Christianity and spread the Gospel. I find the aspect of eschatology interesting and it makes sense that he would go all over the region to (in his mind) save people from the end of the world. Paul in Athens gives me a newfound appreciation for Paul because, during his journey, he was able to respect and understand other religions and use their beliefs and worship styles to tell them about his God.
The script of this film is true poetry. I appreciate that this film went into great detail to explain the exact context as to how Paul formulated his thoughts and beliefs about Jesus using the context of his time period and his background, instead of automatically using religious reasoning. It made the film more educational and stand out from other films and documentaries about Paul.
Having grown up hearing about the writings of St. Paul and knowing his sayings the insights brought here by Professor Eliav were very new to me. Hearing the context in depth for what St. Paul was saying helped me to understand the motivations behind what St. Paul said. The combinations of culture that St. Paul began and seeing how they contributed to the later spread of Christianity are so much clearer now. Additionally, setting the film split between historical depictions of St. Paul's arrival in Athens and Professor Eliav's explanation made the film so immersive and much more engaging.
This documentary is a great way to follow Apostle Paul's journey in Athens for people who only viewed St.Paul as a Christian advocate. I really loved how the cast and crew were able to take us back to this time period and made it seem realistic as this journey occurred in the first century CE. Great work!
The stunning element of Eliav's explanations regarding these sites and their history was fascinating. It provided substantial educational value while serving as a reminder that history is interpreted through the historian's perspective, leaving much yet to be discovered. This approach also deepened my admiration for historians and archaeologists, acknowledging the meticulous effort they invest in reconstructing these remarkable narratives. It was truly eye-opening to witness the nuanced insights that shed light on these ancient sites, underscoring the dedication required to piece together such incredible stories.
Growing up, I've heard of this "St. Paul", but I never really learned much about him or his history. I really appreciated what Professor Eliav did to really bring the Apostle Paul's story to light. This documentary did an amazing job at putting Paul in a more historical setting, tracing his steps, while simultaneously explaining his motives and actions. Overall, I would 100% recommend this documentary to anyone, to learn a little more about who Paul really was.
Incredibly well made. I appreciated how the movie took place directly in Athens, and how well the audio supplemented the content.
Great movie, cant believe eliav made this. Thank you to the crew, the fans, and everyone else in there involvement in making this. We need more of this in modern schooling
Watching Paul in Athens was a great experience. Being able to view Paul within the ancient times and Eliav in the modern time really gave me a comparison of the two different time periods. I truly enjoyed the fact that I got to learn about Paul who I had no prior knowledge on before the class along the passion of Eliav within this subject as dedication made this great for me to watch.
Watching this documentary opened my eyes to the rich history and cultural landscape of Athens during the Roman empire, and Paul’s influence on what would later become known as Christianity. I liked how Professor Eliav and his production team built a holistic narrative of Paul in Athens by incorporating a variety of film styles including a reenactment of Paul’s arrival to Athens, narration over maps/paintings/other visuals, and Professor Eliav talking directly to the audience while located in various influential sites. It was if I was able to travel in Paul’s footsteps across Athens, which helped me understand how influential the environment must have been to his teachings!
This is so amazing! It's truly remarkable how Eliav manages to captivate such a fraction of a valuable historical person in such a short film. The sheer beauty of this film is nothing short of breathtaking, being in the actual locations is my favorite part. It's a testament to the boundless creativity of the Graeco-Roman period and shows the impact of Paul that still exists in our world and will continue to do so.
As a Christian who has read through the book of Acts many times and studied the letters of Paul intensely, this was a very new perspective on his travels to Greece for me. I appreciated how Eliav placed the stories of the Bible amongst other historical sources to develop a full picture of Paul's presence in Athens. Idolatry is a concept that is regularly brought up in the church and the Bible; I was not aware that Paul was the first one to use this term until I watched this documentary. Despite all that I have learned about Paul through the Bible, this documentary certainly provided me with a new view on his importance to Christianity and his significance in the history of the Middle East.
I really admire the artistic decision to have actors to depict Paul"s arrival in Athens, historical dramatizations help me to get into the mindset of the period and comprehend the context in a more beneficial way than just explaining it. I also really enjoyed how it was filmed in actual Athens, this lends validity and authenticity to the ideas discussed making it feel like an academic paper as well as entertainment.
I genuinely am impressed by the final product on display here. After watching the behind the scenes video, and seeing all the obstacles originally in place it’s amazing to see what was accomplished with such little time and money. The costuming seems historically accurate, the quality is great, the acting….works, the overhead drone shoots look super professional, etc… All in all, everyone who worked on this should be very proud of the work they’ve done.
I appreciate how the University of Michigan invested into the creation of this movie. I really enjoy how it incorporates both reenactments of Paul and his journey in Athens, as well as commentary by Professor Eliav. I think that having both of these elements makes the film much more engaging since we are able to visualize Paul and his journey, but also extremely informative as Eliav provides important details and narrative as the story progresses.
tremendous acting and storytelling by Eliav. This footage really made me feel like I was there in the moment with Paul and felt what he was feeling. I was impressed by the sights in Athens they went to, and also the similarities the city showed to cities in the Israel Palestine region like Tel Aviv Yaffo. It is truly incredible how such a short film can encompass so much and teach a lot about a largely unknown but extremely important figure to the history of the world and one of its biggest religions. Truly a great film.
Professor Eliav and his team produced a fantastic documentary, it was insightful and comprehensible. The retelling of Paul’s journey to Athens was convincing because they were able to film in the same locations the biblical Paul preached. The Parthenon in particular was impressive. The reenactments helped me understand the environment of ancient Athens but also the Mediterranean Sea which dominates the region.
I was very impressed by the effort and quality put into this film. The use of the actual settings in the commentary made the experience so much better, and it’s clear that a simple green screen would not do it justice.
The acting is amazing, but what's even better was the directing of this film. Watching this film truly gave me the full experience of being in Athens and seeing the introduction of Christianity fall into place which as a Christian, I was unaware of. 10/10 movie, make another one for us!
It's incredible to see how Paul's actions and his sermon at the Areopagus has impacted modern day Christians to this day. I enjoyed learning about Paul, an important figure in the Bible, in an academic setting while also being knowledgable about the historical context of the events that took place in Athens.
Very well done cinematography! I really loved how much history of Ancient Greece this included, especially the segments where the Acropolis and other Architectural structures has no tourists. This really allows you to see how much these buildings were intricate and wondrous.
I used to believe that Professor Eliav's jokes in class were the extent of his acting, yet I have been completely mistaken. Eliav, in Paul in Athens, allows the viewer to have a first eye view of the architecture, engineering, and culture the Greeks had in Athens. Eliav's tone excites the viewer as he shows how much he cares about the region's history. Viewing this documentary was inspiring as a student of Eliav's. It is clear how much work, time, and effort Eliav put into this. Although Athens is just a fraction of the Mediterranean, I can now tell how influential Athens was to the development of culture in the Israeli region.
I really like how the movie jumped from Eliavs perspective to Pauls perspective. It really made it easier to understand and gave a super cool angle.
I really liked the different sections that this movie was separated into. It kept the movie organized and easy to find for future reference. Professor Eliav really put his all into this movie and it shows! The side comments from him really put the content all together.
I have to say, I really enjoyed this film too. It's not often you come across a documentary that brings history to life in such a vivid way. The mix of scenes and Eliav's insights made it really engaging. We get a taste of the local life, the cityscape, religious practices, and artistic expressions of that time. Seeing those ancient sites against modern Athens was a unique perspective, and it made me appreciate the city's rich history even more. Following Paul's path with Eliav was a great way to connect with the story. All in all, it left me with a deeper understanding of that time and place.
This short film truly captures the essence of Paul's journey in a thought-provoking and visually engaging way. I specifically enjoyed the dual use of graphics and also videos.
I thought it was great how this movie followed Eliav as he walked through different museums and archeological sites in Athens. Instead of just following an actor playing Paul, the movie was able to show artifacts that helped to explain the story and connect it to present day.
I love the evolution that Paul made in Athens. He change the Athenians ideas of worship (Idolatry) to the New Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
I really enjoyed watching my actual professor demonstrate to me one of the more important historical stories in a context like this. I felt as if I was traveling with Eliav and the crew and that means they did a great job connecting with the audience. I am also grateful to have a better understanding of this time in history.
When I was told to watch this movie, I genuinely thought it would be at least an hour long, thinking the content was vast. However, when I found out it was 16 minutes long I wondered how such a character like Paul would be explained in such a short time. However after watching and completing the movie, I believe Eliav went above and beyond expressing Paul and his own passion for Paul.
There were so many intricate aspects to the movie that made this film so entertaining. These include the camera views, maps, architecture, background music, chalkboard graphics, sculptures, worship statues, idolatry, and ancient Greek images of Paul. This film did an outstanding job at filling the wholes of Paul's life that I had after watching the introduction. I think this was a great use of the university's money and did a great job showing the full picture of Paul's insane life. I also really enjoyed the comparisons between now and back in Ancient Western civilization times. Paul really did paved the path for future generations to live in peace with the sculpture environment of our society.
After learning about Paul in Athens in lecture, I thought that this documentary was really helpful in solidifying those concepts and ideas in my head by placing them in a physical context. The documentary was overall very well done and I was impressed by the aerial shots, which really gave a sense of the scope of the land. I also enjoyed Eliav's voiceover and found it soothing to listen to.
I really liked that this movie uses the contextual background to help us understand the chronological setting of the movie. For example, when we are shown the work of art, "School of Athens" which is a very well-known art piece, it helps us understand what Athens was like when Paul arrived.
This was an enlightening documentary about the story of Paul of Tarsus. I learned many things about Paul, his journey, and his significance while watching. Before watching this documentary, I did not know about several important events in Paul's life, such as the Areopagus and his involvement in the cultural evolution around the ideas of statues and their significance. This is a fantastic example of amazing storytelling and an excellent introduction to the story of Paul.
Firstly, I was really impresses with the filming of the documentary. The techniques and transitions used were excellent. Secondly, it is actually incredible to see how determined Paul was. Moving from city to city in the Mediterranean, speaking with different groups of people. Its hard to imagine someone getting up and traveling the region hoping to convince people of the truth, especially in that time.
This film is such an engaging reconstruction of Apostle Paul's journey to Athens. The actor reveals the long-lasting implications of Paul's visit, from the historic significance of archaeological sites to idolatry and the worship of statues. The film is informational and enjoyable, as Professor Eliav walks the audience through the tremendous incidents of ancient times. Something that stood out the most to me was learning about the history of statues and idolatry. The term "idol" is very common, but I had never considered its significance or connection to history.
I loved Eliav took us on this journey and almost made it feel like one of his lectures, something I was pleasantly surprised by given the trailer. It also was very cool to see how Eliav and crew seemingly had the entire Acropolis and the Areopagos all to themselves, which really added to the cinematic excellence in this film.
As someone who has very little knowledge on Christianity, and more specifically on Paul, this short movie gave insight to the story of Paul and how he made such a huge impact on religion and history. Overall, I found this production to be insightful and thought provoking.
I really enjoyed how the storytelling included reenactments by actors, voiceovers, and talking straight to the camera. This mix of different styles, as well as the switches between "ancient" and modern times, really helped to keep the story interesting and the audience entertained. I also liked how the story of Paul was related back to modern times, and explained how this story matters today. Also really enjoyed the views of Athens, moved the city to the top of my travel list!
This film was very educational and taught me a lot about the true story that transpired when the Apostle Paul visited Athens. I liked the style of the film, how it constantly switches from the recreation of Paul's journey in Athens to Eliav's modern day commentary on his journey. This definitely made the film a lot more engaging and also helped me to better understand the significance of the events that transpired.
Eliav's insights regarding the immense significance of Paul professing his ideological revelations, adjacent to the most profound cultural and religious center in Athens, are so profound that he must be added to the great pantheon of philosophers, amongst the likes of Aristotle and Nietzsche. It was rather enthralling, listening about Paul's pivotal stances on idolatry, which increased the appeal of Judaism and Christianity to a wider audience by noting how little one's lifestyle had to change in order to properly worship God.
It is interesting to see Eliav introducing the history and the historical remains and the journey of Paul. The background music and the production also make the film fun to watch!
The views of these ancient historical sites with the backdrop of the modern City of Athens were amazing. It is often easy to forget how these monuments which have stood for thousands of years are embedded in the city like a park or golf course would be in the outskirts. Watching Professor Eliav retrace what is believed to be Paul's path into the city helped me envision Paul's journey and his mindset upon arrival. Athens has always been a place I have wanted to visit someday in the future, and this movie has not only added sites to the list of which I want to visit but it has provided great historical context to the region and its importance to modern Western civilization.
I really enjoyed the film. Having grown up in the Christian church, I never heard this perspective on Paul (shocking, I know). It's really nice to have a professional scholar use actual evidence to provide a realistic narrative on such an important figure.
I hit play on the movie wondering how long my attention span would last, but I was once again welcomed into the ancient world by an intriguing figure, Professor Eliav (and Paul too). The argument Eliav stakes out, the importance of the relationship between the spiritual (religious) and the physical (worship of statues), really contextualized the transition from Greco-Roman polytheism and Jewish monotheism to the birth of Christianity. Once again, I was hooked into another journey in the Mediterranean.
It's honestly amazing to see that the University was able to execute a film like this ( the hundreds of thousands of dollars is a lot of money!). The ability to collaborate with people around the world and travel worldwide proves the universities commitment for global studies. I think that this being narrative really helps the story come together.
I was a fan of how the film bounced back and forth between Paul in ancient times and today where Eliav would explain something. It let the documentary really be able to be in 2 places at once.
Although I have a Catholic Christian upbringing, it was so interesting to see Prof. Eliav talk about the origins of Christianity through a historical lens and through the perspective of Paul; From the film, I have found that sculptures are similar to material culture back in the Bronze Age, where they are indicative of the beliefs of the time and provide a historical account of society at the time.
I really did find the acropolis as such an interesting place. What is very unique is when Eliav mentions the significant detail about Paul and the way he was passionate about religion and sculpture. This part really did spark my interest.
I really enjoyed the different elements incorporated throughout this film. The maps, photos, aerial shots, and the artwork effectively told the story in an engaging and educational manner.
I really liked the formatting of the film. Seeing Eliav explaining concepts while being at the actual Acropolis was amazing!
I thought that the video transitioned very well throughout so that we got an in depth explanation of the story of Paul in Athens. There were scenes of Paul wandering, clips of Eliav talking, and a voiceover with several pictures and graphics to further explain the story. It was a very entertaining and insightful movie.
This was such an interesting documentary to watch that had so much information within a 16 minute period! It made me appreciate how much work went into it!
This film was a fantastic way to teach about Paul as he related to Judaism and the shifting religious landscape under the rule of the Romans. It portrayed the significance of his actions in Athens in a way that an article could not have. Particularly, I thought the humble and talented narrator, who looked suspiciously like Dr. Eliav, did a fantastic job at carrying the progression of the movie.
This is one of those documentaries in which I was extremely immersed in. Eliav’s acting abilities really threw me off guard, as it was outstanding!
I thought the combination of the voice over, the visual representation of the actor walking through, and the segments of Eliav explaining history led to create a really unique presentation of information that was engaging. I learned a lot.
Before watching this documentary, I saw Paul as a pioneer for Christianity. But Christianity did not exist in the time of Paul. In fact, Paul had no idea that the spread of his beliefs in Jesus as the Messiah would go on to spark the revolution of Christianity (among many other factors). This documentary does a great job in dissecting the life and thought processes of Paul, without the use of anachronism in skewing who Paul was, or what he believed in.
Another aspect of the documentary that I enjoyed was the explanation of Paul’s shifting attitude towards idolatry. He concludes that Graeco-Roman statues and graven images can co-exist with Jewish Law. The documentary allowed me to see how this shift in attitude is a way to appeal to the Romans. Also, love the drone shots.
Many professors do not utilize videos or films, because in their opinion, it’s a lesser form of learning. Eliav successfully conveys his message by reenacting Paul’s Journey. I have learned about the apostle Paul in other classes, but I did not know he changed Christianity’s view of statues. By using film Eliav creates a memorable experience.
Wow! We are so fortunate to have such an amazing actor as our professor! Not only was the movie very educational it was also entertaining. The visuals like the maps and traditional photos in the movie really added to the learning.
I really liked getting a closer look at famous monuments and artifacts. It was so interesting to see the mix of the reenactments of history with an explanation of what was happening from Eliav. I think the mix of seeing things live and remade and seeing historical artifacts was the best way to understand what was happening through multiple contexts. You can see how it was designed for a classroom because it was very informative while still being told like a story.
I really admire the camera works and aspects of this film. It definitely helps keep the audience engaged, and will also allow for more creative control over the atmosphere or feel of the documentary. You can tell there was a lot of work put into this film because of the effective and well-placed camera movements make for a professional-quality final product!
I truly enjoyed watching this documentary! I took a course last semester that focused on the Apostle Paul. In this film, I saw many things that paralleled with my course, such as Paul's evangelization of Christianity. This film also put a spin on the perspective of Paul that my course examined last semester. It was intriguing to see the different ways the life of Paul could be explained
It was very interesting not only to see the world of Roman Athens through the eyes of an outsider from the time period, but also to see the story of such an important historical figure such as St. Paul before he gained anywhere near the influence that he has on history and religion today.
I enjoy how descriptive the story of Paul was . Having the walk though Athens and him talk about him as an important part of Christianity is so interesting.
I really like the decision to cut from the depiction of ancient times to modern day Eliav explaining important details and phenomena. Because of this constant transition, I feel that the film retains both engagement and a clear transfer of important information.
I really enjoyed the film's writing, cinematography, and acting. It was really informative for such a short work, and it impressed me with how engaging it was throughout. Props to Eliav and the crew for this.