Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
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A blacksmith haunted by his wife's death is thrust into the defense of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem against the forces of Saladin.
The story
In Medieval France, Crusaders visit the village of Balian, a blacksmith haunted by his wife's recent suicide. His father, Baron Godfrey, asks him to join him in the Holy Land, a request Balian initially refuses. However, after a series of personal tragedies and the death of his father, Balian finds himself traveling toward Jerusalem. He eventually arrives in the city and becomes a key figure in its defense. The story follows his journey as he navigates the complex political landscape of the Crusades, facing the threat of the Ayyubid Sultan Saladin while trying to protect the people of the land.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In Medieval France, Balian, a blacksmith, is sought by his father, Baron Godfrey, to join a crusade. After his father's death and a series of events, Balian travels to the Holy Land. He becomes a protector of the people at Ibelin and eventually finds himself in a position of leadership. He falls in love with Princess Sibylla, the sister of the leper King Baldwin IV. As the conflict with Saladin intensifies, Balian must navigate the reckless actions of Guy de Lusignan and Raynald of Châtillon. After a devastating siege of Jerusalem, Balian negotiates a surrender with Saladin to ensure the safety of the Christians. He defeats Guy in a duel and eventually returns to France with Sibylla, while the film concludes with a note on the enduring difficulty of finding peace in the Kingdom of Heaven.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 144
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ridley Scott
- Writers
- William Monahan · writer
- Cast and characters
- Edward Norton · Balian of Ibelin; Orlando Bloom · Balian of Ibelin; Eva Green · Princess Sibylla; Jeremy Irons · not specified; David Thewlis · not specified
- Genres
- historical drama; action; war
- Themes
- religious conflict; sacrifice; war; honor
- Tone and mood
- epic; heroic
- Premise and plot tags
- historical fiction; war drama; crusades
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews upon theatrical release, but the director's cut received more positive feedback. It was noted as a visually impressive but sometimes muddled narrative.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 39% · scale: percentage · review count: 190; Metacritic · score: 63 · scale: 100 · review count: 40
- Production trivia
- Orlando Bloom gained 10 kilograms for his role.; A large set of ancient Jerusalem was constructed for the film.; The film's music was influenced by medieval, Middle Eastern, and contemporary classical styles.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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