Legend of Destruction draws from Josephus and the Talmud in following six figures during the Great Jewish Revolt against the Roman Empire. The revolt, also known as the First Jewish-Roman War, against the Romans ultimately led to the destruction of the second Beis HaMikdash and the exile.

This is not a film with traditional animation. Instead, filmmaker Gidi Dar tells the historical epic through 1,500 original paintings by David Polonsky and Michael Faust during the 91-minute film.  I’m used to certain animation techniques but these films should be applauded for going against the grain. The fact that the film received four wins in seven nominations at the Israeli Ophir Awards is a credit to the work. While the film didn’t premiere in the US until the Israel Center Film Festival in 2024, its 2021 Israeli release came two months after the 2021 Israel-Hamas conflict and a year and a half before the judicial overhaul crisis.

Between Gidi Dar and Shuli Rand’s screenplay and the paints, the film paints a vivid portrait of the sinas chinam at play during the second Beis HaMikdash’s destruction. My G-d, do things get very ugly and fast. It was a time when Judea reeked of social inequalities, corruption and injustice. Things would gradually get worse and worse but if you know history, I don’t need to remind you. Sadly, some people do not know the history but that’s because they’ve chosen to ignore the history. Temple denialism, sadly, is a thing.

Despite the fact that the Romans are the bigger threat, Jews turn against their fellow Jew. Only Rabbi Ben Zakkai (Elliott Gould) reminds Ben Batich (Oscar Isaac) and whoever will listen of the importance of prayer. Elsewhere in the city, Berenice of Cilicia (Evangeline Lilly) is the Jewish client queen, representing the Roman Empire. What little we know about Herod the Great’s great-granddaughter is because of Josephus. She would later become a mistress to Titus (James Babson). But anyway, the factionalism spreading across Jerusalem and Judea would bring about destruction.

Ben Batiach, as his name is referred to in midrashic commentaries, is the nephew of Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai. A lot of what we know as Judaism today would not exist without Rabbi Ben Zakkai’s escape from Jerusalem and saving Yavne. The film depicts his ascent to becoming the leader of the Jewish Zealots after Shimon Bar Giora (Billy Zane) recruits him. Eventually, they part ways with each other. John of Gischala (Jeff LeBeau) makes his way to Jerusalem after the Galilee falls. He offers help but in what comes as no surprise, both forces start fighting each other. Meanwhile. the Kohen Gadol, Joshua ben Gamla (Steve Cassling) goes about his merry way by slaughtering and sacrificing sheep.

As far as the script itself, they do take some liberties with the historical narrative. Even while drawing on Josephus’s writings, one must understand that he could embellish from time to time. Take the fall of Masada, for instance. He wasn’t there when Masada fell so how would he know all the details?!? There’s something to be said about how he betrayed his own people but I digress. With a civil war going on, Jews were doing the job of the Romans for them. Bar Giora certainly did no favors with his reign of terror. While the Zealots control Jerusalem for a bit, we all know it’s going to end rather badly with Titus leading the Siege of Jerusalem. Again, it all ends with the destruction of the second Beis HaMikdash.

But at the end of the day, it is G-d who judges the Jewish people. It’s no secret that we’re during the worst levels of anti-Jewish hate in decades. In the weeks before October 7, Israel was nearing civil war. In this vein, maybe the film could teach us a thing or two about Jewish values. What happens when Jews commit sinas chinam towards fellow Jews? But at the same time, no matter who tries to kill Jews, we know that we will ultimately prevail in the long term. After all, the Roman Empire, which rid the world of Judea and renamed it in 132 CE, no longer stands.

While Legend of Destruction may be appropriate for Tisha B’Av viewing, one must not ignore the lessons of the film. Sinas chinam is wrong. It only leads to more bad things.

DIRECTOR: Gidi Dar
SCREENWRITERS: Gidi Dar, Shuli Rand
CAST: Oscar Isaac, Elliott Gould, Marilu Henner, Steve Cassling, Jeff LeBeau, James Babson, Doug Tompos, Allan Wasserman, David St. James, with Billy Zane and Evangeline Lilly

Legend of Destruction holds its Southeast US premiere during the 2025 Miami Jewish Film Festival. Grade: 4/5

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