‘Fascism and Football’ – a BBC Documentary

by Laura Lai/ Review

With four Premiere League football teams in the upcoming two football Cup Finals, I thought to look for a documentary on football. This is the way I came across the BBC documentary on ‘Fascism and Football’, which is a research on the politics behind the World Cups of the 1930s, during the fascist regimes in Italy, Germany and Spain.

The 1930s dictators – Mussolini, Hitler and Franco – understood football as an ambassador of their countries on the world stage. And each of them, in its way, exploited football for the same political means: fascism.

Mussolini, for example, did not even like or play football, but he was fascinated by the full stadiums at football games, and they all needed such a sport of masses, in order to manipulate masses and get a largely support for their governments.

Franco used the antagonism between Real Madrid – the image of Spain – and FC Barcelona – a symbol of Catalan identity – for his own political advantage. It is said that Franco was too sly and too manipulative even for Hitler. If Franco is known for having manipulated the passions of Spanish football supporters, Mussolini is known for having corrupted referees, in order to favor the Italian football team. And so was Hitler, who also intimidated, threatened and even killed footballers.

Hitler made from mass manipulation an art and football was one of his instruments. For example, in 1933 Hitler took Germany out of the League of Nations, which was a strong political signal for war preparations. A football game with the British team was a perfect mass disguise for his real war intentions and preparations.

Although the British football team was the strongest and the German one was among the weak ones, it is Austria – Hitler’s beloved country of origin – who had a ‘wunderteam’.  After the annexation of Austria to Germany in 1938, Hitler thought to improve the quality of the German football team by including Austria’s ‘wunderteam’ and in particular Sindelar (Sindi).

Mathhias Sindelar (1903 – 1939) had been playing for Austria Wien since 1924 and had no sympathy for the Nazi. He was known as despising the Nazi government for their ‘superior race’ policy and for the annexation of Austria – his homeland. After the annexation, though, the two German countries – Austria and Germany – had to play a last friendship game. It was Sindi’s last game for Austria and he constantly refused to play for Germany afterwards. The match is said to have been manipulated, so that Germany could win, but Sindi could not leave this happen. In minute 70, Sindelar scored for Austria and Germany faced another public humiliation, this time just before the 1938 World Cup. Sindelar’s public defiance of the Nazi might have costed him his life. A few months later he was found dead: intoxication with a poisonous gas. His death was declared an accident so that he could have state funerals. And 15,000 people attended the funeral of their Mozart of football and a symbol of the Austrian resistance.

In this BBC Documentary ‘Fascism and Football’ appears also Uber Garella (goalkeeper of Lazio 1939-1948), Gary Lineker, David Beckham, friends of Sindelar, historians, and others. I wondered what Hitler might have thought when he heard that 15,000 of his Austrian co-nationals attended the funerals of somebody opposing the Nazi ideology of his government. The name – Sindelar – reminded me of Schindler from the movie ‘Schindler’s List’ – the story of an oasis of humanity during the 1930s dictatorship and their inhuman policy.

Bully for you, Melania Trump! Be Best!

by Laura Lai/ Essay

‘Be Best’ is First strong Lady’s international awareness campaign to educate both children and parents about issues they face in the internet era and under the opioid wide spread threat. It is a 3 – pillar campaign focusing on children’s well being (meaning healthy living, encouragement, respect and showing kindness); social media; and opioid abuse.

On May 7^th, 2019 the ‘Be Best’ international campaign turned 1 year old. It is a baby itself. It most probably has just learned to talk and to walk. Therefore the campaign will extend its program and include children of all ages and tackle more the negative social media interaction and the importance of avoiding opioids. The social media pillar will broaden its program by adding online safety with a particular emphasis on bullying.

The campaign was already promoted in 15 American States and internationally in several countries (Please click here for my previous blog article on the international promotion of the ‘Be Best’ campaign.) And in 2019 it includes another international tour, to promote principles of physical, emotional and spiritual well being of all children and teens, in America and in the world, in order for them to be healthy and to be able to positively contribute to the well being of America and of the world. 

At the 1^st year anniversary of the ‘Be Best’ campaign, the First Lady Melania Trump said: ‘I’m here with one goal, which is to help children reach their full potential so that they can grow up happy, healthy and contribute positively to society and the world.’ She also said: ‘I’m ready for the work that is still to be done.’

But after the 2016 US Presidential elections, I am one of those, who heard Melania saying: ‘I’m probably the most bullied person on earth.’ According to the Oxford English Dictionary, ‘to bully’ means ‘to seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce (someone perceived as vulnerable).’ The same dictionary considers this word as synonym to persecute, to oppress, torment, intimidate, etc.

            In general, women and children are considered a vulnerable category. But some women and some children can also be the persons who bully other persons. From my personal experience I am convinced that a beautiful and elegant woman in clothing, in behavior and in the way she speaks can be very bullied by other women – probably frustrated ones, but this only a psychologist can tell; as a political scientist I can only assume – and harassed by men. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines the verb 'to harass' as 'to continue to annoy or upset someone over a period of time - Causing feelings of anger and of displeasure.' The situation can get annoying when the women have a certain public platform to publicly bully; it can turn more annoying when the men who harass have the connections or the power to follow and harass his vulnerable pray all over – here again a psychologist can well depict the mental disorder of those who harass, as I can only speculate that some really weak men need a vulnerable woman or child to oppress in order for them to feel powerful. The situation can get very annoying for the bullied and harassed woman, when the women who bully are friends and/or lovers of the men who harass.

            I had never had doubts that Melania is bullied because she is a beautiful and elegant woman. She could not be harassed, because – lucky her! – she’s married to the President of the United States of America. Due to the fact that she ‘committed this sin’ of being married to a successful American businessman who became president, the exposure was international and the bullying must have been very hard on her as a woman. Nowadays she is still bullied being mocked on her foreign American accent, when she speaks English. She is a naturalized American citizen. I wonder how many of those who bully someone for an accent, and in this case Melania Trump, would speak Slovenian with no accent, if they were naturalized Slovenians. When citizenship is awarded through naturalization, the knowledge of language is relevant, but the accent is completely irrelevant, unless someone needs a reason to bully because mocking makes him/her a great pleasure – which to me it means a bad quality person, who is not even worth paying attention to.

Donald Trump defines the American spirit as ‘pushing boundaries, defying limits, and always striving for greatness.’ This is the framework of the ‘Be Best’ campaign under the First Lady’s Signature.

            Philosophers said that we should look for happiness inside ourselves, but that passions push us to look for happiness outside ourselves. I kind of partially agree with this mindset, as I tend to believe that not only passions, but also human weaknesses can be responsible for some people looking for happiness outside themselves, in bullying and/or harassing others, for examples.

            Melania Trump gave herself time to search into her heart for that thing that would make her happy work for for her adoptive country and that will make a world joining her. And that thing is Life. The First Lady’s ‘Be Best’ campaign is about improving life in America and in the world and saving it, as a speaker to the 1^st anniversary of the ‘Be Best’ was keen to underline. It is a campaign about making life happy, healthy and safe for both children and parents.

The ‘Be Best’ campaign is a bully campaign! And I subscribe to those wishing it many years ahead. If I had to write a birthday card, I would definitely have written the following:

           

‘Bully for you, Melania Trump! Your strength is admirable.

Be Best!’

Creative Writing Exercise #4

A DIALOGUE OF TWO DONALDS

(a fictive dialogue starting from a real political speech[i])

by Laura Lai/ Uncategorized

Scene: Donald Trump (DT) and his youngest son on a sofa preparing to watch on a big TV screen the American Super Bowl. They are enjoying a McDonald’s menu. The announcer quickly informs that the beginning of the Super Bowl is delayed because a top European leader has a message for America and its Commander in Chief… 

SON (worried). Dad, what is this? What do they want from you?

DT (surprised). I don’t know. A message for America?! I hope it’s important…

           ‘…I would like to address President Trump directly, who for long time has been criticizing  Europe almost daily for, in his view, insufficient contributions to the common defense capabilities, and for living off the US.

            Dear President Trump: America does not have, and will not have a better ally than Europe. Today Europeans spend on defense many times more than Russia, and as much as China. And I think you can have no doubt, Mr. President, that this is an investment in common American and European defense and security, which can’t be said with confidence about Russian and Chinese spending.’

(Whistles on the stadium particularly from Russian and Chinese spectators)

            ‘I would therefore have two remarks here.’

DT (slightly irritated). Go ahead! Can’t wait!

            ‘First of all, dear America, appreciate your allies, after all you don’t have that many.’

(Whistles on the stadium from all spectators)

            ‘And dear Europe, spend more on your defense because everyone respects an ally that is well-prepared and equipped. Money is important, but genuine solidarity is even more important…’

SON (commuting the TV on MUTE, nervous). Who’s this?

DT. He’s Donald Tusk, one of EU’s Presidents.

SON (laughing). One of the presidents?! The Europeans may have their Donald, too, but, you dad, you’re the original one!

DT. (giving his son a hug). I love you, son!

SON. What was this all about?

DT. You know, my son, he makes this speech as the President of the European Debtors Union to NATO, who are not playing by the rules and are not contributing with 2% of their GDP to NATO and keep on expecting that the American tax payers will keep on contributing for them, but America will no longer foot the bill, while some of them shirk from their obligations. (intrigued) Ironically, they think that somehow I'm the bad guy in this story!

SON (curious). But we appreciate our allies, right?

DT. Of course we are! And that is the reason we are respected for! But America and the American tax payers would appreciate them even more, if they would play by the rules.

SON (joyful). Like in the Super Bowl! They all follow the same rules.

DT. Exactly! What’s the point of having 27 European allies if the American tax payers need to cover for more or less 20 of them?! You see what I mean?

SON (nods). We, Americans, appreciate the quality not the quantity! What are you going to do next?

DT. What do you think that I will do next?

SON. A press conference! (Pause) Come on, dad! One thing I’m sure: (DT listens curiously what his son is sure about) You’re not going to interrupt any European football finals to give a reply.

DT. What’s their next European football finals?

SON. The up-coming one is the Europa League, but the best is coming after and is the Champions League.

DT. Really?! I may be considering the latter: I only played and scored in the League of the Champions. What do you say?

SON. I say that you’re my champion dad, no matter what they say. And I say that as I know you, you’ll make a press conference.

DT (smiling). Is mom joining us for the Super Bowl?

SON (commuting the TV on UNMUTE). At the second half. She needs to finish something on ‘Be Best’ campaign.

DT. Excellent! It's never too late! Then may the best win!

(The Super Bowl begins)

_____________________________

[i] If any of the characters in this sketch feels offended, I would like to apologize in advance.

May Day in the USA: Before & After

For a maximized image, please click on the cartoon.

by Laura Lai/Comment

May Day? The 1^st of May? Or the Labor Day? Currently, it’s all of them: the ‘May Day’ commemorates the victims of the workers’ strike in Haymarket Square in Chicago at the end of the 19^th century. It was a movement of the labor unions in the United States demanding an 8 –hour working day. Police clashed with protesters, and victims were on both sides. The 1^st of May is currently still called the ‘Labor Day’, but given the number of protests in many parts of the world demanding more job creation, it may become the ‘Unemployment Day’.

After the political and industrial revolutions of the 18^th century Europe, the American colonies were the first of all European colonies to have obtained independence, but got into a Civil War between the North and the South due to differences of perspective on whether or not to abolish slavery. The war ended in 1865 and the slavery of the black Americans was abolished, but it was replaced with a modern capitalist concept of slavery, which included both black and white Americans. It is in this context of the unfair treatment of the American workers, in general, that the protests of the union movements took place starting with the end of April and ending at the very beginning of May 1886. It is the 2^nd International Socialist Movement which declared the 1^st of May 1889 the ‘Labor Day’.

Two centuries later, the economic picture of the US economy looks far better with a record high of 7,3 million job openings in December 2018, announced by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. There is no wonder that the number of the Americans demanding unemployment benefits dropped to the lowest rate in half a century. The reality of 196,000 jobs beats the 175,000 market expectations, the unemployment rate among adult women is at 3,3% - lowest rate since fifty years, the unemployment rate for Hispanics and for Americans with disabilites are the lowest since polls are made for these segments of population. Although in April 2019, there were 263,000 jobs created (construction sector added 33,000 jobs), the Trump Administration created 5,5 million jobs since it took office.

            It should be the constant strengthening of the economy by encouraging investments, a new and simplified tax code and job creation that made 71% of the Americans to declare in March 2019 that according to them the US economy is in a good shape. In the 2019 State of the Union Address, the US President, Donald Trump, invited all Americans – Republicans and Democrats – ‘to choose greatness’, constantly underlying that the Trump Administration works for all Americans.

I am not American. Therefore, I am not invited ‘to choose greatness’, but this does not prevent me from admiring it: In the 1^st quarter of the year 2019, the US economy grew with 3,2% (in comparison to 1,5% European  growth). I may not be invited ‘to choose greatness’, but I choose to believe that the Trump Administration is unstoppable in implementing an economic agenda of a stronger American middle class – regardless of its political views - , of an energy leadership, of the best infrastructure in the world, etc.

It’s great to see at work an American inexperienced politician trying and actually delivering what he promised, without being paid a cent from the American taxpayers’ money! I wonder if the Trump Administration will pause a bit on the first Monday of September, when the Americans usually celebrate the ‘Worker’s Day.’

‘Ben-Hur’: From Silent Movie to Animation & to Sound Movie (I)

by Laura Lai/ Review

The silent movie‘Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ’ (1925) directed by Fred Niblo has among the main protagonists the actors Ramon Novarro (Ben-Hur) and Francis X. Bushman (Messala). It is the story of the Hur Jewish prince family during the times of Jesus of Nazareth. The story is placed when the pagan Rome was at the zenith of its power and conquered Jerusalem. It unfolds linearly and chronologically, starting with December 24^th, with Joseph of Nazareth coming to Bethlehem and the 3 wise men on their holy quest.

Joseph and Mary found no place in any inn, but in an old cave: the cave of David, where 1000 years before the future king David had a rest as a young boy. The mystical perception of God – as understood by the film director and, probably, the producers of this silent movie, David Gill and Kevin Brownlow – starts unfolding from this point on, parallel to the main story of the movie, when Mary getting acquitted with the cave feels that ‘The place is sanctified’. 

The Hur family had a son, Judah Ben-Hur, and raised a Roman orphan as their own son, Messala. The viewers understand that the two youngsters, raised like brothers, have not seen each other for some time, and they meet accidently. Messala – now a Roman officer is ashamed to acknowledge in front of the other Romans that he has a Jewish friend and prefers to do express his joy on a remote street. Although relatively of the same age, brought up by the same family from a very young age, each of them in its religion – Judah, believing in God, and Messala in Roman gods – the mentalities of the two youngsters are very different: Messala considers that ‘To be a Roman means to rule the world; to be a Jew means to crawl in dirt’.

It is in this time period that a new Roman tyrant, Gratus, passed by Jerusalem. And the crowd gathered to see him. So was the Hur family, who was watching from the terrace of their house, when a tile fell down killing Gratus. Judah Ben-Hur, his mother and sister were arrested. Instead of being sentenced to death, Judah was sentenced to a painful and slowly death in the galley. After 3 years which felt like 3 centuries in the galley, Judah’s ship entered a battle with a ship of pirates. Although the film technological means of the mid 1920s should have been very scarce, the scene of the ship battle is at length and marvelous presented. Just before the battle, Judah Ben-Hur is the only slave left unchained by the fleet commander. This saved his life and in return Ben-Hur saved the life of the commander. Ben-Hur became a Roman and he himself an adopted son, of the fleet commander. However, he never stopped to know what happened with his mother and sister. It is in his family quest that Judah Ben-Hur met Messala again and followed by revenge he engaged in a horse race to death that Judah won.

The scene of the horse race is given about 10 minutes from the over 2-hour movie. It is sensational the way the circus was reconstructed for this mid 1920s and silent movie! And although a silent movie in which the lines are written, the music made by Carl Davis and beautifully played by The London Philharmonic Orchestra, described marvelously with musical notes human emotions felt by those engaged in the horse race to death.

In this 1925 silent movie, the black and white scenes alternate with those in color. The latter refers precisely to Jesus Christ: The stories of two Jewish families – Jesus of Nazareth and Judah Ben-Hur – although overlapping are made distinct through color. The mystical understanding of God continues all along the movie. For example, while taken to the galley Judah is refused water by the Romans on the Nazareth Road, where Jesus was working as a carpenter. Judah thinks of God, Who hears his thought and the movie shows a hand that nobody else sees giving Ben-Hur water. It should be a metaphor of the invisible hand of God, which gives believers in Him the strength to carry on. In another scene, a woman was casted with stones by people thinking that they have the right to cast a woman with stones, the viewers have no image of Jesus, but of an arm of a person speaking to those throwing stones. But people doubting the power of the Word are also depicted: ‘How can you scatter the Romans with words?’ Another example is the moment when Ben-Hur is unchained in the galley, because he has ‘the spirit of a free man’.

The story of the movie goes on to the Palm Sunday, when a new governor is appointed to Jerusalem: Pontius Pilate. And Ben-Hur is still searching for his mother and sister, seriously ill, now. The time period covered by this silent movie ends with the crucifixion of Jesus.

Fred Niblo, this silent movie film director, included also the words of Jesus of Nazareth: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ This line made me also think of Hur – the father, who is not shown in the movie, but is said to have taken Messala from the streets and raised him as his own son and Judah’s brother. However, Messala’s loyalty was to the Roman Empire and his believe was in the Roman gods. In which concerns the words said by Jesus on the cross, I have no doubts that Jesus Christ prayed for mankind’s forgiveness until his last breath. However, the part with ‘for they know not what they do’ bares questions: They were Romans, not mentally alienated, pagans, conquerors, and they were also murdering while conquering. And Jerusalem was under Roman occupation. It seems that they knew exactly what they were doing. But they did not know to Whom they are doing these: The Son of God.

The faith in God cures the mother and the sister of Judah Ben-Hur, who was about to marry a beautiful servant of his, Esther. The Hur family – Judah, the mother and the sister – overcame all sufferings of the Roman occupation of Jerusalem, and reunited in health and in happiness with the help of God on Easter time.

‘Ben-Hur’: From Silent Movie to Animation & to Sound Movie (II)

by Laura Lai/ Review

The animation movie (2003) is the adapted story of Ben-Hur for a young audience. The animated story is hosted by the actor Charlton Heston, who played in the 1959 ‘Ben-Hur’ film awarded with 11 Academy Awards. He does not play the role of the narrator of the story, but of the host inviting the audience to follow the animated version of the book ‘Ben-Hur: A Tale of The Christ’ by General Lew Wallace.

            Charlton Heston makes the introduction and the epilogue of the animated movie. From the introduction the viewers learn that it was in 1880 that the 1^st edition of General Lew Wallace was published and that it was the first American novel sold in more than one million copies.

This book was successfully adapted for both stage and film, including the silent movie and a musical. This says a lot about the quality of the textbook, which offers a great ground for adaptation for different mediums. And over time, too: from silent movie, to animation and to the sound movie. Its success says a lot about the emotion that the topic of this book brings to the public. In the epilogue of this animated movie, Charlton Heston reminds what it is said: ‘Ben-Hur brought millions to their feet to cheer and more millions to their knees to pray.’

This animated movie adapting the story of Judah Ben-Hur is centered on the biblical message of faith in God. It is the faith in God that is put in the historical context of the pagan Roman Empire in general and of the believer-in God occupied Jerusalem in particular. And it is about the faith in God of Judah Ben-Hur, descendant of the Hur Jewish prince family and of his family.

            The movie starts with one of the wise man following the star guiding them to the place Jesus of Nazareth was born and with the words ‘Have faith! God is with us.’ Joseph of Nazareth and Mary were back to Bethlehem, but were announced by an angel that their new born son was in great danger because all children under the age of 2 years old would be murdered, and that they must leave. Being an animated movie most probably addressing a young audience, the angels bringing a message, or the shining star guiding the wise men, as well as all representation of Jesus are done without metaphors. It makes the biblical message humanly depicted as in all cartoons with a biblical topic, but very clear for the young-aged audience’s understanding.

            Parallel to Jesus story, is the story of Judah and Messala, who did not see each other for five years. In the meantime, Messala became a Roman officer in the occupied Jerusalem, while Judah loved to study. He considered it a duty to continue his studies in the temple. He was tempted by Messala with the glory and the spirit of adventure, in order for him to enter the army. Money was not brought up as a temptation argument, as Judah Ben-Hur was already a wealthy prince. Although confused Judah seeked advice to his mother and to his sister – his only left family. His mother advised him to ‘Trust God and He will guide you’ and made him promise that ‘Whatever you do, you serve God’. His sister was also not very trilled about the idea of Judah joining the army and while they were having this conversation on the terrace of their house, a tile fell exactly when the Romans were escorting one of theirs – somebody hierarchically superior.

            Following this incident, Judah was sentenced to life in the galley by Messala; the mother and the sister of Judah locked in prison and their house once full of joy – a joy also shared by Messala raised by the Hur family – sealed like a tomb. In the galley Judah served 5 years, although no one survives more than 6 months, but as he acknowledged faith in God kept him alive. Judah became the adopted son of the fleet commander where he served as a slave and a Roman citizen fully aware of the laws and traditions of the Roman Empire, after having diligently studied them all for 3 years. He excelled in all competitions and his father was proud of him. However, his father’s wealth, his life in luxury and his own won prestige did not compensate for the lack of happiness in Judah’s heart. That is the reason why, Judah started searching for his mother and sister. At his return to Jerusalem, it is Balthazar – one of the wise man – who asked Judah to drive one of his chariots in the horse race. And this is the way Judah discovered that he would engage in a race against Messala. Following this race, Messala become a cripple and Judah found a former servant in his house, Esther – his wife to be. Through Esther, Judah found in the Valley of the Lepers, his mother and sister. They were under difficult prison conditions, to which nobody survives more than 3 years, but with the help of their faith in God, they survived 8 years and they were released being seriously ill. They kept faith of seeing Judah again and were encouraged to keep faith that they will also be cured by miracle, especially that Judah and Balthazar had faith in Jesus and were among those following Jesus all over the desert listening him preaching and seeing lepers being cured.

            The time period covered by the story of this animation movie ends with the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. The mother and the sister of Judah Ben-Hur are cured by their faith in God and Judah forgives the crippled Messala for all the harm done. The animation ends with Judah Ben-Hur telling children his story of faith in God, in order for them to tell it to the other generations to come.

‘Ben-Hur’: From Silent Movie to Animation & to Sound Movie (III)

by Laura Lai/ Review

The movie ‘Ben-Hur’ (2016), directed by Timur Berkmambetov (with Morgen Freeman and Jack Huston) is another beautiful adaptation for movie of General Lew Wallace’s novel. This time the story unfolds in a circular way and is more centered on the Hur family than on presenting two stories unfolding parallel to each other. The biblical and historical context, in which the story of the Hur family is presented, is more subtly presented.

The story is said to be placed in the year 33 BC. The birth of Jesus is framed in Jerusalem occupied by the Romans – a time of ‘bitterness and revenge’. The protagonist, Judah Ben-Hur, and the antagonist, Messala Severus, as well as the whole Hur family are introduced following an accident, which happened while Judah and Messala were engaged in a horse race and Judah was severely injured and carried by Messala. The viewer only needs to listen the dialogue between characters and it learns that Messala was an adopted Roman orphan raised by the Hur Jewish family, as a brother of Judah, without imposing their religion or anything else – Messala prays to a Roman goddess for Judah’s healing – or demanding to prove anything, but Messala had feelings for Judah’s sister and felt the need to prove something to the Hur family. And he left. It was five years later, when Judah and Messala met again that the viewers learn through explicit flash backs that Messala engaged in years-long army battles, and that he never bothered to reply to any of the Hur family’s letters.

The stressing of this particular feature of Messala’s character was very intriguing: Why did he choose not to give any news to his adoptive family, who was worried for his life, if he always had the intention to re-take contact with the Hur family, when he himself had a higher social position – that of a Roman officer?!

The historical context in which the story takes place is even more detailed presented in this 2016 version of the ‘Ben-Hur A Tale of The Christ’ book, by the presentation of the zealots. They were also Jews, but in comparison to Judah whose only contact to the Romans was his brotherhood with Messala, the zealots were active Jews protester against the Roman occupation. And it is in this time period that their protests were very frequent, because it was nourished by an emotional and holly ground: The pagans Romans were building a circus for chariot racing with stones taken from the Jewish cemetery.

            Without anybody knowing it, Judah was hosting in his house an injured zealot, when a Roman governor passed by Jerusalem. And this injured zealot attacked the Romans with arrows from Judah’s house. The whole Hur family was convicted: Judah was sent to the galleys in the Port of Tyrus sentenced for life. For the accusation of mutiny, he could have been killed, but – if so far the viewers know the way the zealots was perceiving the Romans – through this conviction, the film director showed the viewers the way the Romans perceived the Jews: Judah said that it was more amusing for the pagan Romans to sentence a Jew to a long and painful death in the galleys. Judah served five years in the galleys and escaped following a ship battle against the Greeks in the Ionian Sea. Judah served in the galleys the exactly same amount of time as Messala served in battles: five years. But the behavior of the two protagonists is completely different. In comparison to the Hur family who constantly wrote letters to Messala, the latter did not even bother to know whether or not Judah still lived. He also had no knowledge about whether or not his adopted mother and sister – for whom he once had feeling – were still living in prison. I found the technical depiction of the antagonist and the protagonist really marvelously done. Judah was brought alone to the shore by the waves. He survived and he got into a contest context to race against Messala – the Romans’ pride in terms of sports – a race that Judah won.

This movie starts with the bitterness of life in the occupied Jerusalem. It presents the need of revenge of the zealots against the Romans who were destroying their cemeteries, and of Judah against Messala. Towards the end of it, the movie gave a different nuance to the concept of revenge, which is taken to the circus area, in a sport game, in which Judah was advised to take the Romans’ pride. The defeat of Messala by Judah was a symbol of the defeat of the Romans by the occupied Jews in the circus built from the stones of the Jewish cemetery.

            In order for the two to race, a bet was done. And the amount of the bet was as high as a treasure. It was as if the film director wanted the viewer to see in concrete terms the great ambition that was motivating Judah Ben-Hur to win over the Romans. This movie presents a second remarkable concept opposition going from collective to individual, when referring to freedom and slavery. It starts with a need of collective freedom from the concrete oppression of the Romans and it ends with the Judah Ben-Hur freed from the slavery of revenge reconciling with Messala, who survived the chariot race.

            In terms of time sequence, the movie presents also the Palm Sunday and it ends with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It ends with the eclipse and the purifying rain, which cured the mother and the sister of Judah Ben-Hur.