Ben-Hur (2016)
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A Jewish prince betrayed by his adoptive brother is sent into slavery, only to seek redemption and vengeance through a legendary chariot race.
The story
Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur and his adopted Roman brother Messala are best friends despite their different origins. After Messala's interest in Judah's sister Tirzah is rebuffed by her mother, he enlists in the Roman army. Ben-Hur marries his slave Esther after Messala leaves. Three years later, Messala returns as a decorated Roman officer during a rising insurrection by the Zealots. When a young Zealot attempts to assassinate the governor Pontius Pilate from Ben-Hur's balcony, the Romans arrest Ben-Hur and his family. Ben-Hur takes responsibility for the attempt, leading to his family's sentencing and his own enslavement as a rower in a Roman prison galley.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Judah Ben-Hur and his adoptive brother Messala are close friends until Messala joins the Roman army. After a Zealot named Dismas attempts to assassinate Governor Pontius Pilate from Ben-Hur's home, Ben-Hur is arrested and his family is sentenced to crucifixion. Ben-Hur is enslaved as a galley rower for five years, during which he encounters Jesus. After his galley is destroyed in a battle against Greek rebels, Ben-Hur is freed and found by Sheik Ilderim. Ilderim trains Ben-Hur to become a champion chariot racer. Ben-Hur travels to Jerusalem to compete against Messala, who is now a Roman commander. During the journey, Ben-Hur reunites with his wife Esther, who has become a follower of Jesus. Ben-Hur learns his mother and sister are alive but suffer from leprosy. In a high-stakes chariot race, Messala uses underhanded tactics, but their chariots become tangled, leading to Messala's death. Ben-Hur finds redemption through his encounters with Jesus and eventually reconciles with the injured Messala before returning to his family.
- First release year
- 2016
- Runtime (minutes)
- 125
- Production countries
- United States; Italy
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Timur Bekmambetov
- Writers
- Keith Clarke · screenplay; John Ridley · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jack Huston · Judah Ben-Hur; Toby Kebbell · Messala; Rodrigo Santoro · Jesus; Nazarin Boniadi · Esther; Morgan Freeman · Sheik Ilderim; Ayelet Zurer · Naomi; Sofia Black-D'Elia · Tirzah; Pilou Asbæk · Pontius Pilate
- Genres
- epic historical drama; adventure; drama; 3D; historical
- Themes
- forgiveness; love; rivalry; power; strength; dictatorship; self-love; faith
- Tone and mood
- realistic; grounded; tangible; epic
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; religious; revenge; slavery; chariot race
- Source material / true-story basis
- Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace (1880)
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 38 · scale: 100 · review count: 34
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in Matera, Italy, from February to June 2015.; The film's Malaysian distributor confirmed that cuts were made to fulfill local legal requirements and guidelines.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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