A film based on the book of the same name which was, in turn, based in the Biblical story of Esther.
Examples of tropes:
- Adaptational Badass: Haman. In contrast to his Biblical portrayal where he begs for his life after in the scene where Esther reveals his plan in front of the king, here he doesn't lose his cool and instead calmly casts doubt on her Jewish heritage, accusing her of trying to usurp a good position, then breaking speeches her as she fears the king may not believe her.
- As the Good Book Says...: Rather than read from the boring history books like all the other wife candidates have had to do, Esther chooses to tell the king the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah, him becoming fascinated by it and her audacity to read something else when that could risk death.
- Bald of Authority: Hegai the head eunuch.
- Crapsack World: A world where genocide is considered cool, The Empire is evil and brutal, and The Federation exist only in the paranoid delusions (or lies) of the worst bigots.
- Decadent Court: Where traitors just keep betraying each other and everyone else.
- Democracy Is Bad: According to the Persians, since their Greek enemies practice it.
- Downer Beginning: Unless you happen to think that genocide happens to be awesome. Deliberate Values Dissonance is used so that the film can have it both ways.
- Dramatic Necklace Removal: The guards do this to Esther before taking her to the palace, taking her Tragic Keepsake from her parents. Fortunately, Hegai manages to recover it.
- The Empire: Babylon is a very evil empire, rife with backstabbers, corruption, slavery, and warmongering. Genocide is also perfectly legal and permissible, as long as proper protocol is followed.
- The Federation: A great alliance of democratic Greeks and monotheistic Jews, unified in the belief that all humans are created equal. The whole thing sounding very much like Eagle Land. Of course, this alliance does not exist in the setting itself. However, it is often invoked as one of the main excuses to go genocidal on the Jews.
- Final Solution: Both the Jews in the backstory and the enemy of the Jews in the story are openly and proudly genocidal.
- Foregone Conclusion: Haman will be Hoist by His Own Petard, Mordecai will be promoted to his place, and a new decree will be made that basically defangs Haman's while still respecting the immutability of the Law of the Medes and the Persians.
- Gentle Giant: Hegai. His stoic manner and size frightens the women when they first see him, but his first real conversation with them reveals that he's a kind, empathetic man, and he soon becomes one of Esther's closest friends in the palace.
- Groin Attack: An Unlucky Childhood Friend of Esther is made a eunuch against his will. Poor fellow.
- Jesus Was Way Cool: While not mentioning Jesus by name, this being set in old testament times after all, Mordechai manages to squeeze in some gushing about the future Messiah.
- Loophole Abuse: The Law is absolute and immutable, so once the order to annihilate the Jews is sent out, it cannot be rescinded. However, additional clauses may be added, such as giving the Jews advance warning and the right to assemble and defend themselves, as well as the right to take the property of anyone who attacks them.
- My Country, Right or Wrong: This trope is how one of the main characters manages to be a rather nice guy and come across as a decent Love Interest for the protagonist while still being the leader of The Empire.
- A Nazi by Any Other Name: Haman is very reminiscent of Adolf Hitler.
- Oh, Crap!: Haman, when Esther reveals her true nationality.
- Putting on the Reich: Haman bears a very familiar Hindu good luck symbol.
- Resign in Protest: When Xerxes appears to give into his advisors' desire for war, Memucan is disgusted and tells him that if he marches on Greece, he'll march without a general.
- Scary Black Man: Hegai is a subversion. The first time the girls see him is right after they've been abducted, so he's seen as frightening. Soon after, however, he's found to be a surprisingly erudite Gentle Giant who sympathizes with the girls and helps them adjust to their new life in the harem.
- Spared by the Adaptation: Memucan is killed in the book.
- Warhawk: Haman and many of other princes are very eager to go to war with Greece, and pressure the King to be the same.
- Would Be Rude to Say "Genocide": Of the kind where you call a genocide a glorious victory. To the point where the problem isn't the slaughter of women and children, but rather the failure to kill one pregnant woman.
