Israeli Second Temple drama ‘Legend of Destruction’ now available in the US

Gidi Dar's animated film 'Legend of Destruction,' depicting the Jewish revolt against Rome and the destruction of the Second Temple, is now available for digital purchase in the US on Apple TV, Google Play, and Prime Video. The English-language version features a cast including Oscar Isaac, Evangeline Lilly, and Elliott Gould.

Gidi Dar's animated film 'Legend of Destruction,' which depicts the Jewish revolt against Rome and the destruction of the Second Temple, is now available for digital purchase in the US on platforms including Apple TV, Google Play, and Prime Video. The English-language version features a cast including Oscar Isaac, Evangeline Lilly, Elliott Gould, Billy Zane, and Marilu Henner. The film was directed by Dar, known for 'Ushpizin' and 'Eddie King,' and co-written with Shuli Rand. It brings ancient Jerusalem to life through 1,500 original paintings by David Polonsky and Michael Faust. The story follows Ben Batich, voiced by Isaac, an idealistic young man who joins the zealots rebelling against Rome. As the revolt descends into civil war, his pursuit of justice turns into fanaticism. The film draws on Josephus's 'The Jewish War,' Talmudic legends, and historical research, exploring how a divided society can bring about its own downfall. Dar described the visual approach as stripping away the illusion of 24 frames per second to invite the viewer's mind to fill in the gaps. Lilly described the film as 'a warning signal for the modern world.'