Fabiola 1949

In ancient Rome, a delicate romance blooms between Fabiola, Michèle Morgan, the daughter of a powerful senator, and Rhual, Henri Vidal, a bold Gaul who fights as a gladiator. Their courtship starts in the tranquil gardens of a seaside villa owned by Senator Fabius Severus, Michel Simon, whose vision embraces religious tolerance and the freeing of slaves. But the city is tense, as reactionary politicians blame the rising Christian movement for unrest, and a night of violence changes everything when Fabius Severus is murdered, sparking a harsh purge and turning public opinion against Christians.

At the trial that follows, Rhual is accused and the Christians are condemned alongside him. In a moment of moral courage, Rhual steps forward to defend the believers, but the verdict remains severe. The persecution intensifies as many Christians are jailed or killed, among them the centurion Sebastian of the Praetorian Guard, Massimo Girotti, who is denounced as a Christian and dies a martyr. Amid the chaos, Fabiola fights to secure Rhual’s freedom, yet he initially rejects her help. The turning point arrives when she openly declares her allegiance to the Christians and chooses to stand with them in the arena, signaling that she is not responsible for her father’s death.

Rhual’s restraint during the combats—refusing to kill his fellow fighters—begins a shift that inspires the other gladiators to lay down their arms as well. As the tension peaks, the arriving forces of Emperor Constantine press against the city walls, sparking a broader uprising. In the end, peace returns to Rome, and the imperial banners bear the sign of Christ, symbolizing a new era of tolerance and hope for a divided empire.