Post by cruororism on Oct 16, 2003 12:47:14 GMT
The story carries a tag line, "A story of the Christ", but it would be more appropriate to say that the story unfolds and plays out in the times of the Christ, the period of Jesus during the last three years of His life. The Roman occupation of Jerusalem is viewed with extreme opposition by the Jews, who look to the coming of a Saviour who would deliver them from the Romans. Already, during this period, the Romans had crushed a rebellion of Zealots (those who banded together to fight Roman occupation of Israel) who masterminded attacks against the Roman oppressors. Therefore, it was the task of the head of the garrison to flush out the troublemakers and execute them. When the Tribune Messala is appointed the new head of the garrison stationed in Jerusalem, his first order of business is to stamp out the rebellion and anyone remotely suspected of being an insurgent, and typically, he went for the leaders.
A childhood friend of Judah Ben-Hur (Messala's father had been stationed in Jerusalem before returning to Rome), this friendship dies an early death when, initially overjoyed at their reunion, Messala wants Judah to inform him (read "betray") on the leaders rousing the populace against Rome. The whispers of a Messiah, and stirrings of Something Great to happen, is making the Romans jittery and suspicious, thinking that a great revolt may be planned. When Judah refuses to betray his people, insisting in fact that the best way to make Jerusalem happy would be for the Romans to give the Jews their freedom, the romance of their friendship is over.
In a series of tragic events, in which Judah's sister Tirzah unintentionally injures the outgoing Tribune, Messala's revenge is something awesome. Judah is taken as a galley slave and his mother and sister (Miriam and Tirzah) are imprisoned and they later become lepers, the sickness of the damned in those days.
It is during their long walk to the port that Judah, weakened from privation and torture, is denied water, and it is given him by a Man. I must mention here that most Biblical films up to the late sixties, never presented the figure of Christ full on. You never saw a face, always seeing only the back, or vague profile, a shadow across the ground, or even a silhouette. In those early days I suppose, it was the extreme deference to the Christian faith. Lately, Christ is a character ("Jesus Christ, Superstar", etc.) But, the viewer knows Judah is given life rejuvenating water by the Christ. I say life rejuvenating, because this is the point that Judah's resolve to survive strengthens, no matter what his fate will be. It is also a unique vision of the Christ when the centurion in charge defers, remaining absolutely mute and frozen to the spot all the time Jesus is ministering the stricken Judah. It is a meeting that foreshadows some of the events of later or near the end of the film.
During a battle at sea, his vessel commanded by Quintus Arrius, is rammed by an enemy vessel. Judah saves Arrius's life and as reward, Arrius adopts Judah Ben-Hur soon after they're back in Rome. This is important to note, since Judah, the moment he is adopted, becomes a Roman citizen, the same way Luke (the physician) and Paul (presumably the "young Pharisee") were. Judah has "diplomatic immunity" when he returns to Jerusalem, and even more important than Messala. Judah's desire for revenge is fired by his obsession to find his mother and sister. The slave Esther tells him they died, but he later discovers them in the Valley of the Lepers where Esther had taken food to them.
One of the greatest cinematic scenes of our time is the great Chariot Race, the scope and splendour is magnificent and only weakly mimicked in later films (Star Wars - The Phantom Menace). Judah, while in Rome, had distinguished himself as a charioteer, and his meeting with Sheik Ilderim (Hugh Griffith), leads to an agreement to race the wealthy Arab's beautiful horses in a chariot race in Jerusalem. His main opposition is Messala, racing his black stallions. This race is important not only for its breathtaking, sweeping cinematography (Robert Surtees), but as the final lap, if one can put it that way, of the long conflict between Judah and Messala; in the competitiveness that had always been part of Messala's make-up. They competed as children, now they competed in a race for their lives and reputation. One watches with bated breath every lap, watches only Ilderim's team or the black stallions of Messala's team. All the other contenders pale into the background, and front and centre, are Judah and Messala.
I rate this as my favourite "Bible film". It is strictly not a story from the Bible, such as "The Ten Commandments" or "Jesus of Nazareth", but it surpasses all those films for its romance (Judah and Esther), family ties (Judah and his mother and sister), respect and loyalty (Judah's servants), hatred (Messala), and the underlying message of the new gospel, love, and the forgiveness that comes through it. Judah was seeking absolution, and Esther leads him to find it. It is an original story set in the times of Christ. Yes, we see the Dolor of Christ, we see the stumbling figure carrying His cross along the Via Dolorosa. Judah recognises Christ as the same Man who had given him water three years previously and his heart aches for Jesus, yet there is a pained awareness and knowledge of the inevitability of the Crucifixion as the secondary (B) plot of the story and Judah's story as the main (A) plot.
It is a thought provoking film, one that puts the Romans in an unfavourable light. Messala is still not at peace even in the throes of death when he summonses Judah to his deathbed. Something that is never quite explained, is Messala's mission, why he is the angry young man he became eventually. Somewhere along the line he became mean and bitter. He wanted to be back in Jerusalem, wanted the glory of leadership, and perhaps that was where he faltered, since Judah questioned those motives, an antithesis to Messala's very nature. This film presents the quintessential Protagonist vs. Antagonist, Judah versus Messala, good versus evil, the Triumph of the Resurrection versus the Fall of Rome.
Having seen the film as a young child, I have always been awed by its depth and visual breadth. I saw Charleston Heston as the player king in Kenneth Brannagh's "Hamlet" and it is truly amazing the difference in the depth of the older Heston. He was not nearly as good in Ben Hur as he was in Hamlet. Films like "The Ten Commandments" and "Ben Hur" should really be classic favourites in anyone's private movie library. I have watched this movie on and off for many years, and it is still as timeless as it had been the first time I watched it.
The chariot race has (directed by Andrew Martin) become a movie classic. When I watched "Star Wars - The Phantom Menace" " I shouted "Ben Hur!", for (to my mind at least) Anniken Skywalker's "chariot race" was a mimic of the one in Ben Hur. The parallels are too obvious to ignore. I'd like to think George Lucas was tipping his hat to the chariot race of Ben Hur.
Although long (3½ hours), it is compelling viewing, holding your attention and keeping you on the edge of your seat from the moment you saw the star over Bethlehem, to the end.
