The film Ben-Hur (1959), directed by William Wyler, is the story of Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jew, and his rivalry with his boyhood friend Messala, a Roman. But the movie also has a subtitle, which is "A Story of the Christ," and it combines the story of Jesus Christ with the story of Ben-Hur. Very little is shown of Jesus, but the film opens with his birth and then switches to a time 26 years later when Messala returns to Judea to be second in command to the Roman governor. The conflict between the two friends revolves around whether Ben-Hur will help Messala and persuade the Jews that they should not revolt against the Roman emperor. Ben-Hur refuses to do this and says that his people will be free again.
An accident occurs and Messala, knowing he is wrong, allows Ben-Hur and his mother and sister to be convicted of trying to kill the Roman governor. After three years as a galley slave Ben-Hur gains his freedom and returns determined to get revenge. He defeats Messala in a chariot race where the Roman is injured and dies. In order to keep their hatred alive Messala tells Ben-Hur that his mother and sister have contracted leprosy. Ben-Hur refuses to give up his hatred and his desire for vengeance until his mother and sister are cured when they witness Jesus carrying the cross to his crucifixion.
The principal problem for the characters is the hatred that comes from belonging to different nations. The conquering Romans are contrasted with the conquered Jews who are still longing for freedom. Ben-Hur is determined to get revenge and will not listen to anyone who tries to change his mind until he witnesses the crucifixion and is converted to believing that he should love his enemies and that hatred and vengeance are wrong. As he learns this the movie ends with the promise of Christianity which will eventually triumph over the Roman empire and replace it. Thus, while it is a film about the clash between nations it is al...