Seconded. If you don't accept the premise that Marcus fell in love with Esca when their eyes met across a crowded gladiatorial arena, the rest of the movie makes NO. SENSE. WHATSOEVER. The book is the same, but more so, since Marcus actually goes out and buys Esca for himself, and then when Esca's delivered, he admits that the only reason he didn't run away while in transit was he was hoping that Marcus was the one who had bought him.