The Bible - Esther

After contributing as Director of Photography and cinematographer for most of The Bible series from Time Life, Raffaele Mertes makes his directorial debut in this powerful story of love, passion and religious conflict.

After the proud Queen Vashti refuses to be commanded by her husband King Xerxes, he passes a law that all women must honour and respect their husbands and he effectively banishes Vashti from the royal household. Ester, a young and beautiful Hebrew woman and cousin of the cunning Mordecai, charms Xerxes and the royal court and becomes the new queen. But Esther has hidden her religious and tribal background and when the king's chief treasurer devises a plan to persecute and kill the Jews, Esther has to make some life-changing decisions...

Esther is sensitively played by British TV and screen actress Louise Lombard (House of Eliott, Chancer, Hidalgo) supported by F Murray Abraham (Amadeus, Finding Forrester), Jurgen Prochnow (Das Boot, Robin Hood, Airforce One) and Frank Baker (House of Spirits, Truly Madly Deeply).