A RECENT FILM based on the book of Esther in the Bible, One Night With The King, is a more elaborate and detailed telling of Esther's story—something that has long been on many wish lists. Her story, which appears in both the Christian and Hebrew Bibles, is vital to Jewish tradition. The Jewish holiday Purim centres around reading aloud the entire book of Esther, in celebration of a time when the Hebrews escaped annihilation. The story is also loved by many Christians.

According to the story, the beautiful young Esther kept her Jewish heritage secret when she was selected to replace Queen Vashti as queen of Persia. Later Prince Hamam, an advisor to the king, openly plotted to destroy all Jews. This severely tested Esther's courage. But supported by her uncle Mordecai's counsel, she sent a message to all Jews, asking them to pray and fast with her. At the end of three days, Esther approached King Xerxes, unsummoned, on behalf of the Jewish people. This could have meant immediate death. But the king let Esther speak. Haman's plot was revealed, and the Jews were saved.

This new film's lavish and colorful production seems bent on promoting the same peace and understanding that prevailed between Esther the Jew and Xerxes the Persian king. Passionate portrayals of Esther, Mordecai, and Xerxes, as well as other characters, make it suspenseful and exciting, even for one who knows the story well.

One Night With The King impressed me as credible, in spite of Scriptural inaccuracies. I'd read the Christian Bible's book of Esther, but seeing the film compelled me to read the Tanakh, a Jewish translation into English of the same text, and to seek out further information in Bible commentaries. I wanted to know why, in the context of history and the story itself, characters acted as they did. I wanted to understand better their particular predicaments—for example, Vashti's refusal to attend the king's banquet and her resulting banishment, young Esther's fear and confusion, and Haman's hatred of the Jews.

At least some of my questions were answered. King Xerxes is portrayed in the film as trapped in the protocols of the times. Yet, while burdened with decisions and politics, he appears to be kind rather than domineering, an artistic, hopeful man reaching for higher meaning in life. What an inspiring picture of a person who holds ultimate power. And Esther herself, in addition to being beautiful, is loving, kind, and accomplished. Both Xerxes and Esther display behavior worth emulating.

One Night With The King evidences a basic yearning of society to find love and respect amid disagreement—as Esther sought to do. Dr. Robert Hodgson, of The American Bible Society, said in a recent press release that he sees this film as a way to bridge Christian and Jew, adding that "the basic tenet of belief rooted in Judeo-Christian doctrine is that we must learn to love another as we wish to be loved ourselves."

The life and writings of this magazine's founder, Mary Baker Eddy, point out the need for this genuine love, the love that Jesus taught, irrespective of one's role or place. "When the divine precepts are understood," she wrote, "they unfold the foundation of fellowship, in which one mind is not at war with another, but all have one Spirit, God, one intelligent source, in accordance with the Scriptural command: 'Let this Mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus'" (Science and Health, p. 276).

When a film contributes to foundationing love-filled fellowship, to lifting the expectation of understanding among people—through characters beautiful, kind, courageous, and intelligent—Mrs. Eddy's vision, as well the goals of interfaith groups and people everywhere, are fulfilled. One Night With The King is just such a film. |css