Esther is an American-Italian-German television film that dramatizes the biblical story from the Old Testament. The movie, part of The Bible Collection series, is a lavish and historically detailed production that brings to life the classic tale of a young Jewish woman who rises to power and saves her people from a plot of annihilation.
The film opens in the sprawling Persian city of Susa, where King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes), played by Thomas Kretschmann, rules a vast empire. After the king, in a fit of rage, banishes his wife, Queen Vashti (Ornella Muti), for her disobedience, he begins a search for a new queen. A grand selection process is initiated, where the most beautiful virgins from across the kingdom are brought to the palace.
Among these young women is a beautiful Jewish orphan named Hadassah, who lives with her wise and influential cousin, Mordechai (F. Murray Abraham). Before she is taken to the king's harem, Mordechai instructs her to conceal her Jewish identity for her own safety, and she adopts the Persian name Esther. Once in the palace, Esther (Louise Lombard) is placed under the care of the royal eunuch, Hagai, who prepares the young women for their encounter with the king. Esther's quiet dignity, intelligence, and grace set her apart, and she soon wins the heart of King Ahasuerus, who crowns her as his new queen.
While Esther is living a life of luxury and power, her people face a grave threat. The king's ambitious and arrogant grand vizier, Haman (Jürgen Prochnow), resents Mordechai's refusal to bow to him. Haman's hatred for Mordechai grows into a deep-seated contempt for all Jews, and he devises a plan to have the king issue a decree to annihilate all the Jewish people within the empire. Haman, an imposing and menacing figure, manipulates the king into signing the edict, sealing the fate of the Jews.
Upon learning of the decree, Mordechai sends a plea to Esther, urging her to intervene with the king on behalf of her people. Esther is faced with an impossible choice. Approaching the king without being summoned is a crime punishable by death. To reveal her Jewish identity would risk her life and position, but to remain silent would mean the extermination of her people. The film beautifully captures Esther's internal struggle, as she musters the courage to risk everything for the sake of her people.
Esther is a film that is as much about political intrigue and palace conspiracy as it is about faith and courage. The movie is a visually rich and compelling narrative that stays true to the biblical account, highlighting the timeless themes of divine providence, moral responsibility, and the power of one person to change the course of history.
Esther is a 1999 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.
