A Film for Our Time: Ben-Hur (the original and best)

What’s your favourite film?

Always a tricky question for me to answer – so many I’ve loved over the years in different contexts and with different people.

For me, one film that’s stood the test of time is the original Ben-Hur, which was released in 1959 – long before I was even a twinkle in my father’s eye…

Having rewatched it today for the umpteenth time, I was struck by the timelessness of the themes and issues it raises – many of which are particularly salient today:

Inequality (and its inherent wrongness)…

Abuse of power (in exercising unrighteous dominion)…

Self-centred will to power versus selfless love (cf. what Nietzsche cynically wrote of as master morality and slave morality in ‘Beyond Good and Evil’ and ‘On the Genealogy of Morals’ – very relevant to the Roman occupation of Judea)…

Hubristic leadership (and the perils thereof)…

Resentment (enslaving nature of)…

Forgiveness (emancipating nature of)…

Redemption (and the source thereof).

There are so many powerful principles that are woven into the story that make it an absolute must-watch – and a must to ponder on, too.

Sure, it’s about 3.5 hours long, but as worthy of the time as any film you’ll ever see.

Your turn:

What’s your favourite film and what makes it worth watching?

#movies #values #leadership #power #love #3Stewardships