Hadrian (TV programme)
2008 BBC documentary
Hadrian is a Bafta Cymru-winning 2008 BBC Television documentary film in which popular British historian Dan Snow follows the travels of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
Production
The film was produced by BBC Wales to tie in with the exhibition Hadrian: Empire and Conflict at the British Museum.
Reception
Reviews
Sam Wollaston writing in The Guardian describes the film as, a breathless, whistle-stop tour of the Roman Empire, and complimented Snow for having, contagious bounding enthusiasm, a real passion for his subject, as well as the authority and gravitas to make you sit up and listen, but he is however critical of the cameraman's dizzying, habit of circling presenters, and the presenter's, prancing around in the desert, wearing a silk-scarf in the style of, The English Patient or Indiana Jones.
Andrew Billen writing in The Times described the film as a, really rather good account, but described Snow as, a bit too public school for my liking, a bit keen on showing us his biceps, and, a bit too Bear Grylls with his flowing desert scarf, concluding that he was unsure, whether to be pleased or sad that Hadrian died a long and lonely death.
Ratings
Broadcast 2008-07-19: 2.2 million viewers (11% audience share).
Awards
2009 Bafta Cymru for Best Presenter: Dan Snow (won).
Synopsis
Hadrian; not only was he one of the greatest of the Roman Emperors, but I’ve always found him one of the most enigmatic and fascinating characters in the whole of ancient history. Now at the British Museum in London there’s a new exhibition which sheds light on some of the key moments of this remarkable man’s life.
I’m going to try and get to the places where these remarkable objects came from; I want to learn about the Empire that Hadrian knew, travelled around and dominated more than any other Roman Emperor, I want to see the architecture that he commissioned, I want to see the places that inspired him, and above all I want to get to know Hadrian as a man.
Snow begins his journey at Monte Testaccio a vivid indication of the importance of Hadrian's family olive oil business in Baetica.
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