In case you think I’m getting prematurely dotty, I willingly admit that I reviewed this One Night With The King in early 2008. A lot has happened since then to make me feel the need to dust it off. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a huge crowd recently at the AIPAC (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee) 2012. In his speech he spoke about America’s long standing and amazing relationship with Israel. He also spoke of the real and present danger of a nuclear Iran. Since the timing is almost concurrent with the Hebrew Festival of Purin he spoke of Queen Esther. He even gave President Obama a copy of the Megilah of Esther, a scroll that recounts the heroics of Queen Esther in ancient Persia. If you don’t know who Esther was or about her pivotal role in history, you need to watch this movie. The speech and the gift have a message but I will leave you to decipher that.
You take one young orphan girl and one hunky king and you have the making of a luscious tale. This one is a true tale, chronicled by history. The life of Esther is one of the most inspiring Biblical accounts found in the Old Testament. Much beloved by Jews, Christians and Persians alike, Esther is the story of deliverance for the Jewish people.
One Night With The King has lavish costumes, giggling harems, a vast ancient city, huge armies, black riders, and blood feuds. Yet, it is truly the story of a young woman, a Jew, living in exile in Susa, Persia with her cousin in about 485 BC.
There is a back-story of a 400 year-old feud between the Jews and the Agagites that intertwines throughout the movie. This is a part of the story I had never heard and helped me have a better understanding of this period in history. This is an intricately woven story with intrigues, treachery and comeuppance a plenty, but you need to pay attention.
Esther, played by newcomer, Tiffany Dupont is fresh and beautiful and offsets King Xerxes (did I mention that he is hunky?) played by Luke Goss. There are stunning performances by screen legends, Peter O’Toole, Omar Sharif and John Rhys-Davies that rounds out the cast nicely.
Based on the best-selling novel “Hadassah: One Night With The King,” by Tommy Tenney and Mark Andrew Olsen, this dramatic big-screen adaptation chronicles Esther’s (Hadassah) rise from peasant to queen, her courageous role in the redemption of her people from destruction and death, and her winning of the love of the most powerful man in the kingdom—by seeking his heart rather than the riches of his kingdom.
One Night With The King was shot entirely on location in Rajasthan — India’s very own land of the kings. Digital vistas were added to this Indian castle to recreate the ancient capital, Persepolis. One Night with the King exudes exotic splendor. I have yet to figure out what catches the attention of the “Academy” but in my humble opinion this movie should have at least been nominated for an Oscar for costume and set design. The costumes alone are worth your time and money to rent this movie. Hope you have a big screen, this movie is majestic! As always, I welcome your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com
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