Ben Hur
Running time: 212 minutes. Director: William Wyler. Screenplay: Karl Turnberg, Gore Vidal. Cast: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith Martha Scott, Cathy O’Donnel, Hugh Griffith
Ben Hur is an all-time favourite around the world. Of the three movie renderings, the 1959 version is considered the best. It won a record 11 Oscar Awards. The setting of the story is the lifetime of Jesus. The Jewish aristocrat Ben Hur and his childhood friend Messala grow up in Palestine. Messala becomes a Roman tribune. Ben Hur chooses to be loyal to the Jewish nation, which infuriates Messala. Messala gets a chance to persecute Ben Hur when the new Governor to the city is hurt by a falling tile from Ben Hur’s roof. He is taken prisoner, along with his mother and sister. The women are sent to the dungeons, where they turn lepers. He is made a galley slave pulling oars. He yearns for vengeance. After his release, the official whom he had saved adopts him as a son. His skill with horses makes him a great charioteer. He gets his chance to humiliate Messala who is his chief rival in the climactic chariot race. The defeated Messala dies in the arena on account of his own treachery. Ben Hur meets his sweetheart again and he is already informed of the doings of a famous rabbi called Jesus who preaches the message of forgiveness. He had already met him when the young Jesus gave the exhausted Ben Hur a drink defying the slave driver. He meets the Lord gain and recognises Him on His way to the crucifixion, and returns the same favour. At the point of the Lord’s death, the Ben Hur’s mother and sister are miraculously cured of leprosy. He realises the value of forgiveness over vengeance and hate. The movie balances the spectacular and the emotional, and is a world classic. Its ten minute chariot race is considered one of the greatest film action sequences ever picturised.
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Saint John Bosco: Mission to Love
Running time: 200 minutes; released in 2004; Director: Lodovico Gasparini; Cast: Flavio Insinna, Lina Sastri, Charles Dance, Alessandra Martines.
Gasparini’s movie is a warm-hearted rendering of the life story of one of the most popular and culturally influential saints of the modern world. Little John lost his father at the age of two. His mother Margaret brought him up. Giovanni was energetic, imaginative and athletic. He recognised his vocation early on. The movie starts with a critical situation he faces as a young priest, and shows his youth in flashback. As a priest in Turin he is moved by the plight of the people, especially the youth, suffering from destitution, exploitation and crime. Drawing inspiration from his own boyhood experiences, he dedicates himself to the service of street children and juvenile delinquents. But both civil and religious authorities look upon him with suspicion. Because his approach to the problems of youth was unconventional, he is seen by some as a revolutionary and some as a mad man. But his unswerving faith and devotion to the cause makes him triumph over all difficulties. The film does not emphasise him as a pious ‘plaster saint’ but a full blooded, down to earth human being. He won their hearts of the young through a loving approach that included music, games, encouragement, comfort and education. Some of his pupils distinguished themselves in many fields of life. After a century the Salesians of Don Bosco has institutions in 132 countries around the globe. The movie has many moments of strong emotional appeal.
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