Tristan and Isolde (film)

Plot

The film is set in Great Britain and Ireland, in the Dark Ages, after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. Lord Marke of Cornwall (Rufus Sewell) plans to unify the peoples of Britain – Celts, Angles, Saxons and Jutes – under himself as high king to resist Irish domination.

Most lords agree to this, as Marke is highly regarded and respected as a fair and courageous leader. The Irish king Donnchadh (David OHara) discovers this and sends troops to attack a Jutish castle where a treaty between the British tribes is being discussed. The raid claims the lives of the castles lord and his wife, but Marke manages to save their son, Tristan (Thomas Sangster), at the cost of losing a hand. Feeling compassion for the young boy, whose father loyally supported him, Marke welcomes Tristan into his home and regards him as a son.

Nine years later, Tristan (now played by James Franco) has grown into a fierce, courageous warrior whose loyalty to Marke is not that of a knight to his lord, but rather a son to his father.

Tristan and other Cornish warriors launch an attack on an Irish slave caravan. Tristan fights Morholt, the champion and leader of the army of Donnchadh, whose daughter, Princess Isolde (Sophia Myles), has been promised to Morholt in marriage. Though Tristan kills Morholt and Donnchadhs forces are overrun, he is severely wounded in the fight and believed dead, though he is in fact only suffering the effects of Morholts poisoned sword.

Tristans body is put out to sea on a funeral boat which eventually washes up along the shores of Ireland. He is discovered by Isolde and her maid, Bragnae, who administer an antidote that revives him. Bragnae insists that Isolde conceal her identity so Isolde tells Tristan her name is Bragnae. Tristan and Isolde fall in love as she nurses him back to health. The two lovers must separate after Tristans boat is discovered. Tristan returns to Cornwall and receives a heros welcome. A confused but overjoyed Marke welcomes him back with open arms.

Plotting to defeat Britain, Donnchadh proposes a peace treaty, promising his daughter Isolde in marriage to the winner of a tournament. Tristan wins the tournament on behalf of Marke, unaware that "the prize" is the woman he fell in love with in Ireland. When he discovers the truth about Isolde, he is heartbroken to see her betrothed to Marke, but accepts it since the marriage will end "a hundred years of bloodshed."

Marke is kind to Isolde and genuinely falls in love with her. Isolde grows fond of him, but her heart still belongs to Tristan. Isolde tells Tristan that she is his anytime he wants. Tristan is torn between his love for Isolde and his loyalty to Marke, a man whom he loves as a father. Marke is confused over what is tormenting Tristan and disappointed by the distance he is putting between them.

Tristan eventually gives in to Isolde; they renew their love and begin an affair behind Markes back. The affair is discovered by Lord Wictred (Mark Strong), a longstanding dissenter to Markes leadership. He informs Donnchadh of the affair and they conspire to use their love to overthrow Marke, with Wictred getting Markes throne in exchange.

Marke confides in Tristan that he believes Isolde is having an affair. Tristan is tormented by the guilt and burns down the bridge where he would meet Isolde. After Marke and Isoldes coronation, Tristan attempts to end their relationship, but Isolde begs him not to leave her. They are caught in an embrace by Marke, Donnchadh, and the other British kings. Donnchadh pretends to be furious that his daughter is being treated as a "whore" and ends the alliance. Seeing this as weakness on Markes part, the other kings also decide to part ways with him.

Marke is hurt and furious over his wife and son-figures betrayal. He tells Tristan he has ruined everything and that he wishes that he had never saved his life. However, after Isolde explains their history, Marke relents. Tristan is taken to the river and Isolde tells him that Marke is letting them run away together. Tristan puts Isolde in the boat meant for their escape and tells her that if they leave they will be remembered for all time as those "whose love brought down a kingdom." Tristan pushes the boat away from the shore and runs off to the ensuing battle.

At the same time, Markes nephew and Tristans old friend, Melot (Henry Cavill), resentful of his uncles long favouring of Tristan, shows Wictred an old passage into the Roman foundations of Markes castle. Wictred had made Melot believe that he will become king when Marke is defeated. Once they are in the passage, Wictred stabs Melot and sneaks his army into the castle. Marke and his forces swiftly become pinned down by Donnchadhs army outside the castle and Wictreds men within.

Tristan sneaks back into the castle via the secret tunnel, which he used to carry out his affair with Isolde. On the way, he finds the dying Melot; the old friends forgive one another before he dies. Tristan emerges from the tunnel and attacks Wictreds men, allowing Markes soldiers to secure the castle, but he is mortally wounded in combat by Wictred, whom he still manages to kill.

Now outnumbered, Tristan, Marke and the soldiers loyal to him emerge from the castle and present Wictreds severed head to Donnchadh. Marke urges the British kings standing with the Irish to aid them in making Britain a single, free nation. Inspired by his words, the British kings and their men attack Donnchadh and his army.

As a fierce battle between the British and Irish erupts, Marke carries a dying Tristan to the river, where they are met by Isolde. Marke leaves to lead the British to victory, while Tristan eventually dies in Isoldes arms after uttering his last words: "You were right. I dont know if life is greater than death. But love was more than either." Isolde sees to his burial beneath the ashes of the Roman villa where they had met to be with each other. She plants two willows by the grave, which grow intertwined. She then disappears from history and is never seen again. Marke, it is said, defeated the Irish, united Britain, then ruled in peace until the end of his days.

Cast

Reception

Upon release, the film generally received poor reviews. It received a 32% rating at the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with a consensus that it was "competent but somewhat static", failing to "achieve the sweeping romanticism that it aims for." 38 of the 119 reviews were favourable. At Metacritic, the film scored a 49 out of 100 based on 33 reviews, with "mixed or average reviews".

Box office

The film opened at number eight for the weekend of January 13, 2006. It grossed $7.85 million in its opening weekend. As of March 30, 2006, the film grossed a total of $14.73 million at the domestic box office.