Israeli Second Temple drama ‘Legend of Destruction’ now available in the US
The story follows Ben Batich, voiced by Oscar Isaac, an idealistic young man who joins the zealots rebelling against Rome, driven by anger at corruption and inequality.
"Gidi Dar's 'Legend of Destruction,' the film that chronicles the Jewish uprising against Rome and the subsequent destruction of the Second Temple through striking visuals, is now accessible for digital purchase in the United States on platforms such as Apple TV, Google Play, and Prime Video. The English adaptation features Oscar Isaac, Evangeline Lilly, Elliott Gould, Billy Zane, and Marilu Henner in key roles.
Dar, known for acclaimed works like Ushpizin and Eddie King, served as both director and writer alongside collaborator Shuli Rand. Their future project, The Wedding Entertainer (The Tale of Moishe Badhan), made its debut at the Tribeca Festival this year. 'Legend of Destruction' vividly brings ancient Jerusalem to life via 1,500 original paintings by David Polonsky, who also contributed to Waltz with Bashir, alongside Michael Faust.
The narrative follows Ben Batich, portrayed by Isaac, a young man with noble intentions who joins the zealots in their rebellion against Rome, fueled by outrage over corruption and inequality. As the struggle unfolds and transitions into civil war, Ben's quest for justice morphs into extremism, contributing to the Romans' ultimate victory and the destruction of the temple.
Evangeline Lilly voiced Queen Berenice, Elliott Gould portrayed Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, Billy Zane was rebel leader Bar Giora, and Marilu Henner played Batich's mother. The film is grounded in historical sources, incorporating Josephus' The Jewish War, Talmudic legends, and rigorous historical research. It employs an unconventional visual style, stripping away the typical 24 frames per second to enable the audience's imagination to fill in the gaps, thereby imbuing the film with emotional depth.
Director Dar explained that this approach aims to transcend mere motion and engage viewers on a deeper emotional level. Oscar Isaac remarked that he soon ceased to notice the images were still paintings, feeling instead as though he was watching Gladiator. Evangeline Lilly hailed the film as "a warning signal for the modern world." Further information can be found at legendofdestruction.com.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
