Esther the Queen

Esther the Queen (Esther za Joō) is a 2024 Japanese drama film produced by Tezuka Productions.

Plot
King Ahasuerus (played by Leo Mando), who is the ruler of the Persian Empire, had recently removed Vashti (played by Chika Sendou) from her position of queen after she refused to display her beauty before his drunken guests so he decided to find himself a new queen from a selection of beautiful young woman,

The following day, Esther (played by Mikit) asked her cousin Mordecai (played by Rikit) for some advice when her friend kicked a cat because she feared that she won't be her friend anymore but when Mordecai told her that Esther shouldn't be afraid to do what's right, Ahasuerus crowned her the new queen, but Esther didn't revealed her Jewish heritage. Shortly after, Mordecai discovered that Bigthan and Teresh (played by Eionsuke and Arata) are planning to assassinate Ahasuerus so they were both arrested and sent to the Island of endless teasing and Mordecai's service to the king is recorded.

When Haman (played by Mikaman) was appointed by Ahasuerus as his viceroy, he discovered that Mordecai refused to bow down to him on account of his Jewishness so he got Ahasuerus' permission to have all the Jews executed on the thirteenth month of Adar.

Mordecai discovered the plot and told Esther to ask Ahasuerus to cancel the plan but Esther was too scared to tell him since it's against the rules to speak to the king unsummoned since it would lead to death so she told Mordecai to have all the Jews fast for three days for her and vows to fast as well.

On the third day, Esther goes to Ahasuerus, who stretches out his sceptre to her indicating that she would not be punished, and invited him to the feast in the company of Haman. During the feast, she asked them to attend a further the next evening.

When Ahasuerus and Haman attended another feast, The King promised to grant her any requests, and Esther revealed that she is Jewish and revealed Haman's plan to kill all of the Jews, including her. Overcome by rage, Ahasuerus leaves the room. Meanwhile, Haman stays behind and begged Esther for his life, falling upon her in desperation only for Ahasuerus to return and think that Haman is raping Esther, which made him angrier and banish Haman to the Island of endless teasing.

After Haman's banishment, Ahasuerus cancelled the order to have all the Jews executed and appointed Mordecai as his right-hand man as Esther gazes out the side of the Palace with a smile.

Turns out the whole story was a stage play developed by Rumiko Tezuka and as Mikit was helping cleaning up the stage, Rumiko told her that the stage play she developed taught her that she shouldn't be afraid to stand up for what is right, even if it would lead to consequences.