Esther (1999 film)

Hadassah (Louise Lombard), a beautiful Jewish girl, lives with her cousin (and legal guardian) Mordechai (F. Murray Abraham) in Shushan, the capital of Persia. After King Achashverosh (Thomas Kretschmann) deposes Queen Vashti (Ornella Muti) for her refusal to obey his decree, he is advised to choose a new queen. Guards then search his entire kingdom for worthy candidates, taking them from their homes by force and removing them to the palace. Mordechai attempts to hide Hadassah but she is captured by the guards. For her protection and at the insistence of her cousin Mordechai, Hadassah changes her name to Esther, meaning "hidden". Esther and the rest of the young women are taken to the first harem, where they are placed under the custody of Haggai, a royal eunuch and chief caretaker of the harem. Meanwhile, Haman, another royal advisor (Jürgen Prochnow) rises to power and favor of the king. Memuchan (Umberto Orsini), a trusted chamberlain of the king, is wary of Haman's ambition. Mordechai also makes an enemy of Haman, due to Mordechai's refusal to kneel and show Haman deference as others in the kingdom do. Haman plots revenge on Mordechai.

After a time of purification, it is time for Esther and the other women to present themselves to the king for one night. The king falls in love with Esther and crowns her queen. Sometime later, Mordechai hears a plot that two of the king's guards, Bigthan and Teresh, are plotting against the king and reports to Esther. Esther then exposes the plot to the king, and the men are sentenced to death.

The king's chamberlain Memuchan dies and King Achashverosh mourns his loss. Esther requests to be received but the king takes no heed. Haman comes and tells the king to govern once again, but the king takes no heed again. Esther leaves and believes she has lost the king's favor. The king then appoints Haman as lord chamberlain. The next day, Esther calls Haggai to her chambers and asks him what she should do to win back the king's favor. Haggai answers that she must be patient. Meanwhile, Mordechai once again refuses to bow to Haman. Haman's wife Zeresh, family and servants tell him that Mordechai does not respect him. This further angers Haman, and they suggest he builds a gallows 50 cubits high to hang Mordechai upon. Haman then goes to the king and tells him a certain race of people wish to overthrow the king. The king, concerned, gives Haman his signet ring which gives him the right to decree a law that even the king cannot change. Haman sends a decree to all provinces that they should annihilate all Jews within their borders. At hearing this decree, Mordechai dresses himself in sackcloth and ashes and mourns outside the palace gates. Upon hearing this, Esther orders her servant, Hatach (Cristopher Ettridge), to give Mordechai clothes. Mordechai refuses them and gives the letter of the decree to Esther, telling Esther to petition the king, although it is forbidden to go before the king without being called. Esther is reminded that if the king holds out his golden scepter, her life will be spared. Esther tells Mordechai to gather all the Jews and fast for three days on her behalf. After three days, she dresses in the royal robes of state and goes before the king. The king holds out his scepter, asks her petition, and promises her that it shall be granted. Esther invites Haman and the king to attend a banquet she has prepared in her quarters. At the banquet, the king again asks Esther her petition and request. Esther promises the king that she will tell her petition and request if they return to the banquet once again the following day.

That night, Achashverosh wakes up after having a nightmare, and not able to sleep, asks the royal eunuchs to read the chronicle. They discover that Mordechai was never rewarded for revealing the plot of Bigthan and Teresh. Haman comes to ask permission for the gallows, but the king asks what to do for a man the king wishes to honor. Haman believes it to be himself and plans an ornate ceremonial parade through the city. He is then told to perform this in honor of Mordechai. The ceremony is completed, and Haman then returns to his house in shame. At Esther's second banquet, the king asks once again what she desires, and she asks him to spare her life and the lives of her people. The king asks her who would do dare raise a hand against her, and she reveals the plots of Haman, including the plot to kill her own cousin, Mordechai. The king, enraged, tells his guards to hang Haman on his own gallows. The king appoints Mordechai as his new lord chamberlain. Esther asks the king to revoke the law made by Haman, but as it is not possible to revoke a law in Persia, he tells her she must find another solution. With the help of Mordechai, she asks the king to create the law that for one day, the Jews can defend themselves against any that are persecuting them, and the king grants her request. After the fighting is over, Esther then passes a law that the Jews must celebrate the day that changed their fate. In the final scene, some of the Jews are shown returning home to Jerusalem, led by Ezra (Frank Baker).

• Louise Lombard as Hadassah / Queen Esther of Persia
• F. Murray Abraham as Mordechai
• Jürgen Prochnow as Haman
• Thomas Kretschmann as King Achashverosh of Persia
• Ornella Muti as Vashti
• Natasha Williams as Mimouna
• Frank Baker as Ezra
• John Hollis as Charbonah
• Umberto Orsini as Memucan
• Phil Davies as Chagai
• Peter Halliday as Karshenah
• Cristopher Ettridge as Hatach
• Darren Branstord as Nehemiah

Esther at IMDb