Best. Passover. Tradition.

Let’s get this out of the way: The Prince of Egypt’s a Jewish movie, not a Christian one. There are universalist themes of freedom and faith present, and I have no qualms with Christians taking something from it. But it’s a story from The Torah, the vision of Jewish artists and was meant for a Jewish audience. Considering how many Christian-centric movies and shows there are, we Jews are entitled to claim this as our own. It’s why I’m convinced Season 3 of The Mandalorian’s Jewish-centric subtextually.

The Prince of Egypt’s one of my favourite animated films. Its ambition sometimes overrides its narrative, but so did The Ten Commandments. And that’s considered a classic. Though if we’re being honest, I like The Prince of Egypt more. Yes, those are fighting words. We can take this outside...

Every time I watch this movie, I notice new details. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I understood the Hebrew words Yocheved speaks in “Deliver Us”. As an adult, the movie’s subtext became more apparent. Late-20s me recognized its musical motifs, as well as how they’re used for effect. Even now, I appreciate the setups and pay-offs to side-character beats, even if they seem insignificant. I’m sure I’ll appreciate more details in 5-10 years.

There are many behind-the-scenes stories that are equally as interesting. I know it pioneered plenty of CGI backgrounds that’d later become the norm. I also know animators who fell behind were sent to work on Shrek. And I know Steven Spielberg wanted to make this movie for close to a decade, being held back by technological limitations. There’s so much about the production that, like Jaws, is more interesting than the movie. Except that I love this movie anyway.

I appreciate the use of Hebrew for certain verses in “Deliver Us” and “When You Believe”. I don’t like how there are direct inferences to God’s spoken name, especially given Judaism’s stance on that, but it adds an authenticity that you wouldn’t get otherwise. I love how Israeli singer and activist Ofra Haza voiced Yocheved. Considering she died of AIDS due to a blood transfusion, this is her legacy. I can’t imagine anyone else as Yocheved.

This movie’s subtext is striking and bittersweet. This is a Biblical story, but it’s also a human one. It’s the tale of two brothers torn apart by destiny. In Moses’s case, he’s pitted against Ramses in order to free the Hebrew slaves. This could’ve been an old-fashioned, operatic tale of good versus evil, but it’s much more. Instead, it feels like a modern tragedy.

This is best reinforced in how Ramses lets the Hebrews go. In the original text, it’s only after a series of false promises that Moses wins, and only through exhausting Ramses. Here, Moses only wins because he’s broken Ramses emotionally. It’s not triumphant, but rather quiet and sad. Moses even cries afterward.

I know YouTuber Lindsay Ellis has taken issue with The Prince of Egypt because of this. It’s hard not to sympathize, especially since God in this movie does some heinous stuff. It’s also hard not to empathize because, at least theoretically, Jews aren’t supposed to be vengeful. We see this in spilling the wine while mentioning The Plagues at the Seder; after all, human beings suffered! In that sense, I can’t fault Ellis.

While I can’t offer a satisfactory answer, as Scripture’s laden with violence and brutality, I do think this is a worthwhile movie. Besides, questioning this is healthy. If you’re not questioning your Judaism, you’re being Jewish incorrectly. After all, the original name for Jews, Israel, comes from the phrase “to struggle with God”. So this is normal.

And as for pay-offs? There are plenty. I appreciate how every detail in the story, including what each slave looks like, loops back at some point. Even the comedic goofs, like The Sphinx’s nose breaking during Moses’s and Ramses’s race, serve a purpose. They’re not all great pay-offs, but they’re definitely pay-offs.

I also, and this feels indulgent, appreciate the use of shoes. Most of the Egyptians wear gold-crusted sandals, while most of the Hebrew slaves are barefoot. Even Moses loses his sandals as he becomes in-tune with his roots, perhaps symbolic of his intimate connection with God. Little details like that don’t seem important narrative-wise, but they feel important thematically. Especially since shoes were considered a sign of wealth back then.

If I have any complaints, aside from overusing “When You Believe” in family gatherings, they’re minor. Like how the inclusion of a Boyz II Men song in the credits dates the movie. Or how some of the background animations feel constrained by the limitations of the times. Or even how most of the voice actors are Hollywood celebrities who aren’t Jewish. But none of these are deal breakers.

It’s a shame The Prince of Egypt wasn’t an immediate success. Sure, it was well-reviewed. And sure, it’s gained a cult following of dedicated fans. But initially it under-performed financially, forcing DreamWorks to rethink their strategy for success. Not even winning an Oscar at the 1999 Academy Awards could fix that. So while they’d hit their sweet spot with Shrek in 2001, this movie remains a “what if?” for the studio.

It also makes me pine for other Biblical epics. I know Hollywood’s averse to Biblical epics that aren’t Jesus or Exodus-related, but those feel cliché at this point. If Noah’s any indication, there’s potential for other stories to be told. Think of a Jericho movie, or an Esther movie, to name a few! They’re violent, especially near the end, but the possibilities are endless!

I guess I’ll have to settle for what exists, however. Even if it’s only Jesus and Exodus stories. I hope they’re not as bad as The Passion of the Christ and Exodus: Gods and Kings, though. The former was an exercise in religious torture porn, and the latter? Oh geez! As if I had further reason to never see another Exodus adaptation, right?

So yeah, that’s my take on The Prince of Egypt. Have a Happy Passover.