Raffaele Mertes

King Ahasuerus (Thomas Kretschmann) of Persia is enchanted by the lovely Esther (Louise Lombard) and makes her his queen, unaware that she's Jewish. When Prime Minister Haman (Jürgen Prochnow) orders a day of assault on the Jews, Esther reveals her heritage to the king and pleads for his help for her people. F. Murray Abraham co-stars as Mordecai, Esther's proud uncle, in this faithful adaptation of the biblical story.

It is 90 AD, and the Roman Empire is being run by the Emperor Domitian, who has declared himself to be God and ruler over heaven and earth. The Christians, who do not recognize his divinity, are a thorn in his side # and he is having them cruelly persecuted. The small village in Asia Minor to which the aged apostle John has withdrawn is also attacked by Roman soldiers. (imdb)

The people of Jerusalem are suffering under the reign of HEROD, and are hoping to be delivered from the Roman occupiers by the Messiah # whose arrival, it is rumored, is to take place very soon. Unlike his nephew JUDAS, who wants to join the zealots (freedom fighters), the 35-year-old widower JOSEPH is not interested in participating in any fighting against the Romans.

When Jesus is taken off the cross at Golgotha, THOMAS arrives there. Like most of the other disciples, he had worriedly taken refuge with friends in Jerusalem after Jesus's arrest. After Jesus's burial, the disciples decide to leave Jerusalem quickly, but Thomas refuses to leave Jesus' body behind, as he fears that the tomb may be desecrated.