By Mark Pattison
It has been 57 years since the last film version of Ben-Hur hit movie theatres. That alone is, for most Hollywood types, reason enough for a remake.
But when the husband-and-wife team of Roma Downey and Mark Burnett saw the screenplay of the new version from John Ridley, he of Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave fame, “we loved the script,” said Downey, an executive producer of the new film, as is Ridley.
“We loved the rephrasing of the story as one of forgiveness and reconciliation instead of the previous incarnations which were revenge-driven.”
Downey added, “certainly, my faith is important to me as a Catholic and I feel that the values in this film are important and valuable. In the time we’re living, in a world that’s uncertain, with fear and confusion, I feel the central themes of forgiveness and reconciliation is a message that’s needed now more than ever. It’s my hope that audiences will leave the film with this message of reconciliation.”
Downey and husband Burnett, one of the producers of Ben-Hur, spoke to Catholic News Service (CNS) during a telephone interview from Los Angeles on 13 August, in a last promotion push for the film, which was to open nationwide on 19 August.
“It’s very tricky, all the marketing,” Burnett said. “All it means is a number. You’ve got to make projects that you love, you’ve got to make them very well, do your best job, then tell people about it, and sit back and let it happen.”
Burnett added, “there’s a big push in the secular market,” noting big Ben-Hur billboards around Los Angeles, which she said is exciting. “We were excited to see the letter from Cardinal (Donald W.) Wuerl (of Washington in support of Ben-Hur, and Archbishop (Jose H.) Gomez here in town (Los Angeles), and Cardinal (Sean P.) O’Malley (of Boston).”
Advance support for the movie has come “across denominations from all churches across the country,” Downey added, “but the Catholic Church this time has really stepped up and endorsed the film.” She said she hopes the Church can “reach out to people who are unchurched and maybe don’t know about Jesus.”
Downey also praised the performance of Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus. “He brings a gentle strength but also a beautiful timelessness to the role.” Jesus in the 1959 version was played by Claude Heater, who didn’t even get his name in the credits. “Jesus was more of an imperial presence, he wasn’t interpreted as a person you could see or feel his presence,” Downey told CNS. “That’s something John Ridley addressed in his script. Not only he (Jesus) the son of God, but the son of man.”
The new Ben-Hur was filmed at Rome’s Cinecittà studio complex, and Burnett and Downey “had the opportunity to get a blessing from the Pope,” she added. “Pope Francis personally blessed Rodrigo Santoro. That was an extraordinary moment for him, and for us.”
John Mulderig, CNS’ associate director for media reviews, gave Ben-Hur a classification of A-III – adults, citing stylised but harsh violence including combat, and a nongraphic marital bedroom scene.
Even amid the busy-ness of moviemaking, the couple still finds time to pray. “Every day,” Burnett said. “For me personally I try to start my day with small prayers, and then I try to train physically for a couple of hours, then I take a solid half an hour after training to do nothing but praying.”