Thoughts on "Kingdom of Heaven" (2005)

 

After dozens of reels on Instagram, I finally decided to watch the movie “Kingdom of Heaven” directors cut. I had formerly watched the official version, but there’s something about medieval age war movies that pulls me back. The iron swords, chainmail armor, silky capes, bravery and bloodshed amidst epic music and whatnot.

(a quick plot synopsis is jotted at the end, if you would like to know the story. In short, it is an epic historical drama under the premise of the Holy Crusades, narrating the tale of blacksmith Balian as he goes to Jerusalem to undergo his path to redemption)

I don’t know where to start with this film. Not being a movie just about the siege of the city of Jerusalem, it dives deep into the politics associated within the Holy Kingdom itself. A topic as delicate as the conflict between religions is portrayed so efficiently that rooting for any side is just a matter of preference. Unlike the film “300” where the Spartans are shown as brave warriors who were all about justice and brevity, while the Persians shown as brutes, half-demon forces of evil, this movie outshines it by showing both the armies in glory and in pity as they mourn the countless bodies of the dead at the end of the day. Speaking of characters almost all of them go through an arc where they learn more about themselves and the world around them.

While the king takes the center stage at the first half, it is through Balian we see the greater part of the film. Being just a blacksmith, he rises to a Knight and in the absence of a king, he defends the people when all hope is lost. He is faced by betrayal, dismissed by people of his religion and almost executed by the new king but rises to glory. The tightly written script gives ambiguity to his thoughts all while making the audience aware of his motives.

Finally, the part which gives a special place to this movie for me. In the history books, Crusades were military expeditions led by Christian armies of Europe during the medieval era with its aftereffects felt even today. With no clear victor and millions dead it smeared the history books with blood on both sides. Although there might be slight deviations from the actual history, the film makes the viewer question the different forces of power at play, be it the European fear of Muslim expansion, or the loss of trade routes or even merely control over the Kingdom of Heaven. If you aren’t bothered by deep questions of religion and ethics surrounding it, the film still provides a great spectacle like it did for me the first time I watched. There are battles, military tactics, Balian’s journey and everything that would motivate you to buy knights armor at the end of the day.

Even today just five minutes in the internet would show the great rift in religious ideals on the subjects such as Israel Palestine conflict. Films like this helps us realize the ambiguity and manipulation of religion as well us indifferent forces that are to gain from them. Either way let me know what you think after your watch. Feel free to disagree.

Until next time dear reader!

 

*SPOILERS*

Diving into the story, it narrates the tale of Balian of Ibelin, a blacksmith, as he meets his destiny and travels to the Holy Land, Jerusalem. Momentary peace has been created between the Christians led by King Baldwin IV who ruled the city and the overwhelming Muslim forces led by Saladin. However, this is short lived following the death of the king by leprosy where the kingdom goes into war, led by the treacherous Guy de Lusignan. The latter half of the film is the siege of the city of Jerusalem. With the new king captured, Balian bravely defends the city against the siege to protect its people. Since Christian invaders had massacred all Muslim inhabitants of the city years ago during the first crusade they hope the same fate does not befall them. Balian defends the city with its limited knights until the two armies come to a truce where Saladin offers a safe passage for the inhabitants and Jerusalem is surrendered to the overwhelming Muslim forces.

As Balian returns to his home and starts living his life as a blacksmith again, he is approached by the armies of Richard the Lionheart as they are undergoing a crusade to capture the Holy Land. When he is asked for his support, Balian smiles saying, “I’m the blacksmith”.

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