Arquivo

The first fiction feature of Gitai’s career is a poetic reinterpretation of a Biblical story about Esther, a woman who sacrifices herself and becomes involved in a circle of revenge in order to save her people. The film is sketched as a great big living picture, whereby theatrical sets, stagecraft, special effects, images of ancient mountains are placed side by side with traffic jams, while siren and honking horn sounds contribute to Gitai’s intention of giving his film a timeless appeal. Going back to the time when the original story began, Gitai’s first take portrays the banquet scene of King Ahasuerus’s wedding, while a narrator’s voice-over gives the historical background to the Book of Esther. The heroin is a woman of Jewish origin who flees to exile in order to escape King Nabuchadonosor’s persecution and seeks refuge in the palace of Sushan with her uncle and tutor, Mordecai. To have their lives saved, her uncle warns her to keep secret of their origins. Unbeknown of her Jewish descent, Ahasuerus falls in love with Esther. His appreciation of the family grows even more after Mordecai helps the king to uncover a plot against him. Meanwhile, the royal advisor, Haman, becomes increasingly envious of Mordecai’s influence and plots against him.