NERO – PLEA FOR A MONSTER

Emperor Nero is still regarded as the epitome of the evil and crazy tyrant. But was he really guilty of all the crimes he was accused of? A dramatically presented historical investigation.

The name Nero is still synonymous today with the character of the cruel and crazy dictator. The emperor who ruled over Rome from 54 to 68 AD is mentioned in the same breath as the most horrendous crimes in history. For a long time, he was considered a narcissistic maniac who persecuted and killed Christians and set fire to Rome to make way for his megalomaniacal architectural visions. In the middle ages, Nero then became the embodiment of evil, the apocalyptical antichrist. But was he really responsible for the greatest fire disaster in the history of Rome? And did he really have the apostle Peter executed, his grave reputedly being the site upon which St. Peter's Basilica was built? Current research disproves most of the accusations made against him and presents Nero as a forward-looking statesman and a clever power-hungry politician who sought to introduce economic reforms and pursue intelligent peace policies. But also as someone with extreme tendencies, a fearful and emotionally torn individual. Featuring sophisticated and historically accurate re-enactments, the film embarks on a journey to ancient Rome and paints a differentiated picture of the controversial emperor.