Original subtitles

It is the tradition at Passover to set free a prisoner.

One chosen by the people.

You, the people of Jerusalem, will decide.

Which of these two condemned men do you wish to set free?

Jesus of Nazareth or Barabbas?

Sorry, there's no more wine.

I'm sorry.

There's no more wine.

Woman, my time has not yet come.

Do whatever he tells you.

Fill them with water. Water.

What are you doing?

I'll give you half.

You can say Barabbas took it all.

I don't betray my master.

Put it back.

Don't kill me.

Don't kill me.

No, I don't think so. Try these, then.

I dropped my cup.

People don't come here to drink.

Take one of my girls.

Take as many as you like.

How about you kick everybody out?

I want to be alone.

Choose any girl you wish.

I want to be alone!

You've always liked her.

No.

I want the nameless one.

What nameless one?

The one who's frightened of me.

Frightened of you?

Everyone who knows you is. Frightened of me?

Her. She trembles every time she sees you.

She does?

I want the nameless one.

I am the nameless one.

Why the nameless one?

Because he asked me my name and I didn't give it.

But she's only a servant.

She doesn't know how to do what you want.

She's less than worthless.

Get out.

What's your name?

Esther.

That's your share.

It's a pig!

So, next time choose a better house to rob.

A robbers, so he's alive!

They said he was killed in Damascus. Or in a fight in Sidon, or hung by the neck

in Tyrol. You can't believe the rumors.

Barabbas always comes back.

Wherever there's a dead body, that's where I'll find you two scavengers.

Welcome back, Barabbas.

Zealots?

So busy looking for the Messiah, they found death instead.

Everyone in Judea is waiting for a Messiah.

About to crucify the whole land it might happen sooner or later under this Roman

governor zealots are the enemies of Rome with all this talk of rebellion and

Messiah that's coming to liberate them with a sword of fire

Well these two won't be doing any more talking and that's what

talking gets you We should just kick the Romans out careful what you say Pilate

spies are everywhere

The Romans control all the roads, control the caravan, control the city,

everything there is. The taxes and the gold.

Seize the harvest, and they're making it difficult to steal.

Either you work for the Romans and break your back for a pittin', or you end up

like them.

What do you two want out of life?

Wine, money, and whores.

Same as him. More whores.

Well, you follow me, you'll have everything you need.

You follow me, I'll make you rich.

Oh,

wine, money, and whores, and whores, and whores, and whores.

You're the caravan master.

I am the oldest.

We come from Sunan, in Galilee.

Well, if you're the master, then the lives of these people depend on you.

We are all children of the same father.

You know, I never had a chance to meet him.

But the Lord is with us, always.

And we are under his protection.

I don't think so.

He would have not had you meet me.

Barabbas.

Barabbas? We are traveling to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the temple.

You know, I never understood these sacrifices.

It is the duty of every child of this land. How do you make a sacrifice?

One offers the victims to the Lord in order to obtain his benevolence. So you

buy animals and sheep and ducks and you kill them?

And you waste your money on this nonsense?

It is tradition.

Well, we're going to have a change of plans.

Old man, today, you give your money to me.

But the money for its sacrifices is sacred. Oh, I assure you, the money will

just as sacred with me.

We are all children of God. Please leave us in peace.

Drop your knife, or sacrifices will be made right here and now.

You reap what you sow.

Where is the money?

No.

Kill the woman.

It's all here.

You're very generous.

Choose any girl you wish.

Even two, three, as many as you like.

If you wish now she's mine Forever

Aren't

you afraid of me?

Would it make any difference?

Yes.

You are afraid of me.

Everyone's afraid of Barabbas.

Everyone.

Why not?

It's a sin.

Yeah.

That's why I like it.

It would be against God's will.

God.

Now I've lost all desire.

I don't want you.

Or your God.

I want a drink!

Go to sleep.

As I told you, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

I am a fisherman, always have been, but I don't understand what fishers of men

means.

Answer me this.

What is easier, to smile or to offend?

To hit someone,

Or to lend a helping hand?

You can see better from here.

In your opinion, what pleases God more?

To offend?

Or to smile?

To hit out?

Or to come in peace?

Love your neighbor as you would yourself.

Because you're same pain.

It's in the heart of those close to you, as your same hope.

I've never had the courage to hope.

Excuse me, let's go.

Do you know what punishments await those who lie to the Roman governor?

I'm not on trial, am I? That depends.

What am I accused of?

You better say that you were mistaken, that you made it all up.

I can say whatever you would like me to say, my lord.

That's better.

But everyone in Bethsaida, that is where I was born.

Everyone there knows me. They know I was born blind.

You faked being blind in order to beg.

No.

These eyes had never seen the light of day.

My world was made up of things I could touch, taste.

Ask anyone in Bethsaida who knows me. They know how I have lived my life.

Ask Rabbi Eladzi. He is my master at the synagogue.

We won't ask anyone.

You are a treacherous people plotting our downfall.

Every one of you. No one can give sight to a man born blind. You are right, my

lord. No one can do that.

But I am the exception.

And how do you think that is possible?

I don't know.

I could hear people talking, shouting.

I moved towards them.

What's going on, I said. What are you talking about? Who are you talking

Jesus, they said.

But many people are called Jesus.

Then they say, Jesus of Nazareth.

Had you ever heard his name before?

No. Never.

Not as a healer. As one who drives out demons.

No. Never.

When I came close, someone pointed me out to him.

And then I felt his hands on my eyes.

Enough. You're repeating yourself.

Throw him in prison.

Without light.

You're used to the dark.

Aren't you?

A leader sent down from heaven.

A messiah to lead the revolt against the emperor.

If the people believe this nonsense, it will be the end for us.

You don't believe in prophets, do you?

You should rest, Claudia.

When did you last have a good sleep?

You won't answer my question.

Do you know who this child is?

It isn't the child that I can't give you.

Not you.

Fate. It was our lot.

That's all.

The prophet talks of a child.

A child who will bring light to the world.

You don't believe it, do you?

You don't believe it can happen.

That someone can restore sight to the blind.

Claudia, you must learn to distinguish.

I govern this land on behalf of the Roman emperor.

You close your eyes in order not to see. You don't want to see.

You're all blind and without hope.

I need hope.

I can't live without hope.

I will request a transfer back to Rome.

Soon.

We cannot live in this land of rebels and fake prophets.

Isn't it what you always wanted? A return home?

Not now.

I want to see with my own eyes. To hear with my own ears.

Is this about the rabbi of Nazareth?

He's just one of the many who incite the crowd against us.

Stay close to me.

I need you.

You, get over that hill on the road to Jerusalem.

If you see Romans or Herod's soldiers, you have time to warn me.

And you, after you water the horses, I want you to sit under that tree on

You know how to play one of these?

No. We'll learn.

And keep playing until I come out of there.

And if you stop playing, I know you're asleep. And if you're asleep, well, I'll

know how to wake you.

Yeah.

I brought you something.

What's the matter? Aren't you hungry?

Take care of you, don't I?

Let me go.

Where?

To see the man of Nazareth.

To hear him speak.

He's got nothing to say.

Then you shouldn't be afraid.

Afraid?

I bought you.

I can do what I want with you.

What if you didn't come back?

Why wouldn't I come back?

What, you mean if someone kills me?

If I die, how could you live?

What have you got there?

What is that?

Must be worth a fortune.

I pretend that my mother left it to me.

Pretend?

I never knew her.

Like me.

I didn't know mine either.

A slave merchant raised me.

Hate and fear.

Eyes for bread, they gave me stones.

Eyes for water, they whipped me.

How can you believe in God?

How can I not?

You can leave.

Go. Leave. I don't care.

Just remember, without me, you have nothing.

You have no one.

I have God.

God.

I saw how well you were doing with him, Omni.

He wasn't so good to you, was he?

Maybe he sent you to me.

Then he is a cruel God.

Cleverer than your friend.

Now you could be even richer.

And still alive.

Death is too good for you.

Barabbas.

Water to wine, Barabbas.

The Lord revealed his power.

It's almost time for us to take up the sword and fight.

And the Messiah will lead us to victory.

Not you, Barabbas.

All the evil and all the filth of the world are burned in the fires of Gina.

Just a coin or two. For my friend. He's hurt.

I have no coins with me.

How else can I help you?

I need ointments.

Medicinal herbs.

You can take this.

This is too much.

Thank you.

Please.

Let me come with you.

It's better going alone.

This is no place for you.

Let me help, please.

Please.

Burn.

Burn all the

heat

of the world.

I never would have dreamed this land would yield us so much.

Home is never satisfied.

Today, two of our people were stabbed in the back.

I was told.

They hate us more every day.

I know of an entire village in the south burned to the ground by your soldiers.

They were hiding zealots, Claudia.

The very same people who would love to kill us.

I don't want you going to the city on your own.

I'll give you an escort.

I don't need an escort.

Do you really believe this Jesus of Nazareth will protect you?

Or the God you talk so much about?

Get away from me. Get away from me. Move.

Move.

Why did you save me?

A little treat.

You don't want me anymore?

You make me forget who I am.

You make me... weak.

I don't know why.

I can't allow that.

Don't accumulate riches in this world.

Woodworms and rust destroy everything.

And thieves take whatever is left.

It's better to accumulate your riches in heaven.

Thieves don't go there to steal.

Where you find your riches, there you will also find your heart.

We have dates.

And plates.

This is not enough.

Drop your weapons.

Which of you is Barabas?

That's him.

They killed him.

This is Barabas.

Let the other one go.

He's the one we want.

Our leader wants to see you.

Watch your enemy's eyes.

That way you can see if he's afraid or about to strike.

Your eyes are telling me you're tired.

You must make your time.

Go.

I don't know who I am.

We need money for the war in Rome.

I took it from Rome. It's mine.

We need more.

So go get it.

I need men like you.

You don't know who I am.

You're Barabbas. There are so many stories about you. You would need a

wives.

Who are you, really?

I am who I am.

I know what you could become.

I like being Barabbas.

It is your life, but...

when the Messiah summons you to free our land.

Messiah is a fable for the defeated.

I don't believe in fables. He will believe in you and summon you to his

I'll worry about that when and if that day comes.

This is for the money you saw for us.

It is a sign of the Essenes, my people.

The Essenes? The Essenes don't fight wars.

They don't kill.

They don't seek riches.

They wait.

They wait for a man who brings peace.

That's why I left them.

I believe in a warrior, Messiah, who leads us to ultimate victory.

You know the way to our camp now.

I should kill you.

I'm not afraid to die.

Give him wine and bread and let him go.

You will return.

Maybe not.

His name is Licinio Tellure.

In just a few years, he has become one of the richest men in all Syria.

He's the son of a Roman general, born and raised abroad, and he's a big

crook like his father.

A valued client, I assume.

Not even all my girls are enough for him.

He's asked me for others.

And he pays double.

What's he doing in Jerusalem?

He has just returned from Leptis Magna.

They say that he and the governor have agreed to share the taxes.

A mountain of gold.

Which he keeps in his house.

Where's Esther?

You chased her away.

Now you want her back.

Shut up. I bought her. She's mine.

Oh, she's yours.

And you don't know what happened to her.

She's the maid of some carpenter in Nazareth.

He fools the people with his tricks.

And she, along with other equally crazy women, serves him hand and foot.

Cleans everything.

To think I wanted to make her a prostitute.

Come join us if you wish.

The rabbit.

I told you you would return.

You said you needed money.

Not for me. For the struggle.

There's a mountain of gold.

The gold of Leftist Magna.

What do you know about it?

It's amazing what you can learn simply by listening.

Meaning what?

Take it.

It's yours.

I can't do it alone.

You can't?

It's impossible.

So you need others.

I need you and your men.

We can share it equally.

And then what will you do? More money, more wealth, more gold?

What about you?

More wars, more weapons, more blood?

I'm preparing the way for he who will come.

The Messiah will free us with his sword of fire.

This is my answer.

I don't know if it is what you seek.

Barabbas is not one of us.

But we need him as he needs us.

After death we'll go our separate ways.

This man is a criminal.

His hands are covered in blood.

His life is a sacrilege. And rather than accept him among us, we should kill

him.

The fires of Giena didn't work.

You want to try again?

Get up!

Give me the knife! No one tells me what to do!

You think you're free? I am free!

You want to be free?

You're a slave to the violence within you.

It serves me well enough.

That is the way of the animal.

If you know when to stop, then you're a man.

Didn't your father teach you that?

It was very easy for you to talk like that.

I never had someone to teach me

anything.

I never had a father.

Then you have much to learn.

Get some sleep.

Choose the best.

Me? You know better than I do what we're going up against.

I think we're going to get into the Chino Toledo's villa to steal his gold.

We have to become gladiators.

How many men will it take?

Three, not including us.

That's all.

If this works, the fewer the better.

And if it doesn't?

We die.

Tell me who you want as your leader.

Well, these two.

And him.

The one who brought me in.

Dan Gat.

This is the house.

This is the temporary arena they're building.

Games for his rich friends.

All of the exits, all of the guards are facing outward to repel an attack from

the outside, but we, as gladiators, will attack from the inside.

Bye. Bye.

So what do you do here?

I wash, clean, prepare the food for him.

And you?

Why are you here?

I don't know.

I wanted to see you.

Why?

I wanted to make sure you were all right.

Here with them.

Lots of things happen that I don't understand.

I hear them talk.

I see the people who go to him.

It all seems so new.

I believe in nothing.

Those who believe in something get hurt more.

Will you be back?

I don't know.

What I have to do, I might die.

The gold and... The gold?

Only fools die for gold.

Only fools live poor.

I'm no fool.

Barabbas, he teaches another way.

There is no other way.

There's only survival.

It's never been different and never will be.

You take as much as you can while you live and then it's over.

Nothing.

Maybe not.

From Gaul to Namidia to Asia Minor, they will all say that the name of Druso

Puglione is a guarantee.

My gladiator must be prepared to kill and be killed.

They asked me for faith.

Faith worthy of the challenge.

For this rich Roman party.

I don't want to know who you are, nor where you come from.

I don't care if you are killers that get from prison, or valorous soldiers.

But I want you to know that death is your last chance.

I want to see you in action.

So, I may choose the very best.

The weapons are blunted.

I want to see vision and determination, but no blood.

Not yet, anyway.

Wild animals like you can be useful, but they must learn to recognize their

master.

You shouldn't have done that.

He was going to kill you. You almost ruined all of our plans.

The plan will fail without you. You're wrong.

No one is indispensable.

Three of us can succeed.

Druso chose me and Dan.

What about Sator?

Sator is out, along with one of the Nubians, the two Thracians, and the

I managed to convince Druso that without you, the party would not live up to its

expectations.

You won't get another chance to learn the lesson.

And to think.

To think before acting.

What if my plan fails?

What then? Then you die.

Your men need you.

Too late.

The Lord does not abandon his children in the hour of need.

Tell me what you feel.

Feel?

Why? By the time the sun rises, we all might be dead.

Fear never worked for me. I believe in force, alone.

No one is alone.

Not if he fights together with others.

You know what I want.

You'll get your goat.

Good.

Nothing else matters.

You're playing blind, Barabbas.

Despite having eye to it.

Come on, come on!

I just want you with me.

I told you I love you, I love you, I love you so.

Oh, my God.

Can you keep us by chance, brother?

Now, put your last winner against him.

uh

Romans don't even come up here to collect the taxes.

And if they did, only the Lord is privy to men's actions.

You're a better man than you think, Barabbas.

You do have a destiny.

You must allow yourself to see it.

Go.

Dan, do you believe in destiny?

I believe in God.

And I believe that he knows what he wants from each of us.

If that is destiny, then yes, I believe.

And here?

There is nothing.

We are poor people. We have nothing to hide.

Commander, I beg you.

We keep the teachings of God in there.

Blood begets blood I believe you have something I want

This woman was caught committing adultery. The law of Moses commands us

her. You say you wish to uphold the law to the letter.

Tell us, what must we do?

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

You shouldn't be seen with someone like me.

With you, I feel comfortable.

You don't judge me.

I don't mean to be rude, but you don't seem happy.

You're the wife of the governor.

You have... you have everything.

He was different when I married him.

He had dreams.

He encouraged me to dream.

Now he lives off hate and fear.

He's tormented by Rome, by Judea, by all his responsibilities.

He protects you.

It means he worries about you.

I'm just one of his many worries.

You shouldn't say that. I'm sure he loves you.

I failed him.

I didn't give him what he wanted most.

What I wanted.

A child.

It was Jesus who gave me a reason to hope again.

Thank you.

He frightens me.

Why?

The love he talks of.

It's not the love you feel for another person. It's... It's a love...

But I'm afraid to understand.

It's... It's too big.

You're in love, aren't you, Esther?

The man you saved.

I don't know where he is.

But I did see him again.

Tell me.

This is what I took from you at Kana.

You cannot erase the past.

What happened, happened.

How will you restore the life you took?

Save it for them.

That's my share.

I need nothing.

See Kadar and... Come on.

Kadar has been captured. The Romans have him.

The Romans have captured Kadar. We need to go.

All right, mount up.

Come on, get up to your horses.

I call to you, O Lord.

Listen to me.

Listen to my cry for help.

I raise my hands to you and beg you to heed my prayer.

There's no time to pray.

He who is made will see the power of the Messiah.

Oh, Lord.

My strength.

My rock.

My fortress.

My shield.

My savior.

lead us in battle again.

You're our hope.

I leave you my faith in the Messiah.

He will come to lead us.

I want you to know that with you I've seen what life would have been like if

had a father.

Attacked by overwhelming enemy forces.

Better still, attacked with the completity of the local population by

overwhelming enemy forces.

I would have preferred to die with my men.

A wonderful sentiment.

I'm dying!

He left me alive so that you would know that zealots would continue their

struggle.

And if Alita falls, others will be ready to take up his sword.

Who?

Barabbas.

Name is Barabbas.

Barabbas.

A dead man.

I was told it was him.

Was he wounded?

I don't know.

But it's the law of the arena.

But it isn't God's law.

No, it isn't God's law.

Esther.

They killed him, didn't they?

God, you're alive.

You're alive.

I saw you fighting in the arena.

I was afraid I'd never see you again.

One day he said to me, you will bear witness to me.

What does bear witness to me mean?

I don't know. Ask him.

I've seen how you follow him around.

I've seen how you look at him.

You're jealous.

I don't know the meaning of the word jealous.

What do I have to be jealous of?

You owe me nothing.

I owe you more than you can imagine.

You do?

Good.

What does that mean?

I'm with child.

Child?

Our child.

Our child.

This is no time for children.

I ask you nothing.

How can a man without a home, a criminal bound for a

cross, raise a child?

I will return to Jerusalem and find somewhere to live.

You will come to me when you can.

I don't want him to know his father.

That is why I'm here. The zealots need men that are willing to fight.

I will let you talk to the men.

Thank you.

The word of the prophet Isaiah.

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me.

He has chosen me to take his message to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim the release of the prisoners, to restore sight

to the blind, to free the oppressed, to announce the time in which the laws

will be favorable.

Today, for you who have heard me, this prophecy will come

true.

What are you saying? That you are the Messiah?

Are

you

Jesus

of Nazareth?

And who are you?

I'm Barabbas of Jerusalem.

So are you also traveling to Jerusalem?

Is that where you're going?

Well, don't.

There's danger.

What danger?

The priests of the temple say that people believe in you. They will follow

anywhere. How did you hear of this?

Our people are everywhere.

The zealots.

They say you want to be crowned king of Israel.

And what do you think, Barabbas?

I think if that is true, then everyone in this land is ready to fight for you.

To fight?

Yes, fight.

Led by a messiah with a sword of fire.

Do you believe in the messiah?

I believe in a leader who will come to liberate his people.

And this messiah is a warrior?

All over this land, there are thousands of fires of rebellion.

The people are just waiting for a sign.

What I say, what I do is there for all to hear and see.

I'll say the word and you will be king of Israel.

No.

My kingdom is not of this earth.

Did you not say that with you all the prophecies would be fulfilled?

I heard you. My kingdom is not of this earth.

What are you saying?

It is here on earth where we need a Messiah who will fight for our freedom.

Do you not understand that?

Did you not say that you were the son of the Almighty?

My kingdom is not of this earth.

You are not the Messiah.

You do not have a kingdom.

You are for nothing.

Politician. You are a politician.

Those who believe will wake up sooner or later.

Lord, if you had been here.

My brother would still be alive.

Where did you bury him?

Remove the stone.

Lord, he's been in there for four days.

His body will have started to decompose.

Remove the stone.

Come out!

He's the guy!

I've been expecting you.

They will never go out.

More will come tomorrow and the days after.

They will light more and more and keep the memory alive.

Memory of what?

What exactly happened here, Esther?

Jesus called for Lazarus to come out of the tomb.

And he came back from the dead.

Then he was not dead.

I heard Jesus ask Martha.

That Lazarus sister.

Who do you think I am? And she answered, I believe you are the Messiah.

You're the son of God who has come into the world.

Keep it.

Oh, thanks.

From the dead, Pashas! From the dead!

Raise from the dead!

That Pilate becomes the laughingstock of Rome?

That he's gone mad because of his failure to maintain law and order?

That's all that bothers you.

It does not bother me.

Too often you forget that I am the governor of this land.

Sometimes I'd rather not talk to the governor.

Sometimes I wish I could talk to the man who took me at 16 years of age from my

father's house and who swore to love me.

I never stopped loving you.

In spite of everything?

Is that what you mean?

In spite of the fact that I'm no longer the woman I was?

And now you think I've gone mad?

I only believe that we all need strong bodies to survive.

And you need to believe in that man's miracles.

But what this Jesus of Nazareth does...

What he says.

Through a force of fire consuming everything in its path.

And we must stop him.

Before he consumes us too.

Do you really love me?

Yes. I do.

Then promise me you'll do nothing to harm him.

I'll do as you wish.