by Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman —
When I was pregnant with my middle son (who is now six) I visited Masada with my family. I got a chance to see how the Jewish rebels lived many centuries ago atop a mountain overlooking the Dead Sea. This coming Tuesday & Wednesday (March 31 & April 1) CBS will be airing The Dovekeepers, a four-hour Limited Event Series about the Jewish inhabitants of Masada and their fight for survival. I was able to get a hold of the DVD of the show before its airing and to share some thoughts.
The Dovekeepers is based on the critically-acclaimed best-selling novel also by that name, which was written by Alice Hoffman. Hoffman, a producer on the show, spent five years researching and writing the book. The novel tells the story of a few women who lived on Masada, the men in their lives, and their fate. Although it is somewhat based on history and real people, such as Josefus Flavius, the book is a work of fiction and therefore so is the show.
What I loved about the show is the focus on the women’s strengths, their resilient nature and the way they empowered each other. Cote de Pablo was fantastic as the enigmatic Shira and Sam Neill brought his usual fierce intensity as Josefus Flavius. Although the show focuses on the women’s perspective of the events and has some steamy romance scenes, men can enjoy it as well, especially the fight scenes, which, although gory, were essential to the plot. The cinematography takes full advantage of the gorgeous scenery and the set design and costumes looked authentic and detailed.
I don’t want to give away too much of the plot (even though we all know how this ends) but the universal message of “live and let live” resonates here loud and clear. The timing of the show could not be more perfect with everything that’s going on in the world and now, more than ever, it’s important to show support and solidarity with Israel and to honor the men and women of Masada who fought for the freedom to practice their faith.
The Dovekeepers in an epic show that holds its own with a remarkable cast, a compelling storyline and breathtaking visuals. Be sure to tune in to CBS on Tuesday, March 31st and on Wednesday, April 1st at 9/8c to watch it.
Photos courtesy of CBS Television Network.
This post was sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer’s Network. As always, all opinion is my own.
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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Bites and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 8, 6 and 2) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.
I’ll have to check this show out. I always like to watch historical movies while off from work. It is so important to remember the past to help us have a better future.