'Ben-Hur' is a film that presents the life of Judah Ben Hur, played by the star of those years, Charlton Heston. He is the son of a noble family from Jerusalem and a friend of Messala, a Roman tribune who leads the occupying armies. But one day, an accident turns them into enemies and our protagonist is imprisoned along with his family. There he is transferred to galleys to serve his sentence and will meet an Arab sheikh who introduces him to the world of chariot racing.
The film was released in 1959 and since then it has become an essential production for Holy Week in Latin America and other continents, despite the fact that the face of Jesus Christ, the son of God, does not appear in the film. Only his hands are shown in some scenes when he takes pity on the protagonist and offers him water. He does not occupy the main role as in other films with a similar theme, such as 'The Passion of the Christ' or 'The Resurrection of Christ'. For this reason, many wonder why 'Ben-Hur' is so popular at Easter. Here, we explain the reasons.
Why is 'Ben-Hur' so popular at Easter?
“If the face of God or Jesus Christ doesn't appear, why do people worldwide watch 'Ben-Hur'?”, is the question that many must be asking themselves these days, trying to understand what causes this rare phenomenon. But the explanation is simple:
Since its premiere, 'Ben Hur' became an unprecedented blockbuster for Hollywood, transforming film history forever. With a duration of 211 minutes (almost three and a half hours), it is a classic that has been considered one of the best films in history, generation after generation.
In addition, it is one of the highest grossing: With a budget of 15 million dollars, it grossed 146 million at the box office. With 11 Oscars in total, it shares the title of the most awarded film in the history of the awards with 'Titanic' (1997) and 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'. This record has kept it relevant even after 65 years of its release. But what else makes us see it during Holy Week?
The chariot race
One of the legendary scenes from the movie 'Ben-Hur' It's the chariot race, pulled by four horses. This representation is one of the most iconic in the history of cinema. According to most people who have seen this film, they have this scene, which was filmed with thousands of extras, etched in their minds. At that time, and without the technology that we enjoy today in Hollywood, recording those images will have been a global feat.
The chariot race was one of the most complicated scenes to film at that time. Photo: Movistar Spain.
Is Judah Ben-Hur a character who appears in the Bible?
The story of Ben-Hur appears in the Bible and that is why he is a character that many of us associate with the life of Jesus. Television channels and streaming platforms always offer it during Holy Week, which leads us to reflect, since it represents the path to redemption and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.
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