“Crusades are series of wars by Western European Christians to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims. The Crusades were first undertaken in 1096 and ended in the late 13th century. The term Crusade was originally applied solely to European efforts to retake from the Muslims the city of Jerusalem, which was sacred to Christians as the site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was later used to designate any military effort by Europeans against non-Christians” (From Microsoft Encarta 2006).
A blacksmith, a bastard, a Crusader, a baron, a leader, and a HERO.
Don’t assume that there are six men. There is just one. His name is Balian.
Living in a village as a blacksmith, Balian is in extremely heartbreaking misery—his wife commits suicide after the death of their only child; he is just a bastard of Baron Godfrey; and after all he was just an orphan. “What man is a man who does not make the world better?” For Balian, answering this question would be the stupidest thing in his life. Now, just let all those memories rest upon the glowing iron; let all the tears that should be given vanish in “thine” bosom. Oh, god, the man was made to suffer!
However, greatness always comes late in one’s life. The hero is “doomed” to save his people no matter how many twists and turns there were in his journey.
A man comes up to Balian. Gentle and mild is his voice, and Godfrey is his name. Judging from his costume, it is not difficult to guess out his position. He is a baron—the baron of Ibelin. He tells Balian that he is Balian’s father. He is the man that shows love for his lady in his unique way—silence. And now he finally finds his son, to whom he offers a companionship to Jerusalem where he owns 100 acres of land, and several hundred people, and he assumes that he can pull his son out of all the hardships.
Resolutely, Balian refuses these offerings.
Wait and note that the story just begins…
A villager urges him to go into the Crusade with insulting words that if he doesn’t go with the Crusaders, no one in the village will accept him. Balian still keeps slient. But when the crucifix, which is buried with his wife, glitters on the man’s neck, Balian’s fury reaches its utmost, and he vents all the frustration and depression on this man who then was pushed into fire nearby. Balian snatches his wife’s heritage, leaving a scalding scar on his hand.
There is no choice for him now. He has to be with his father to be a Crusader. In short, the hero is summoned to his adventure.
His father is seriously wounded when battling with those who want to bring Balian back to court.
There, at the end of the world, you’re not what you were born, but what you have within yourself to be. A better world than has ever been seen. A kingdom of conscience. A kingdom of heaven. There is peace between Christian and Muslim. We live together all between Saladin and the king, we try.
Inspiring enough to be the motto of Balian, these words are a dream of the panting Godfrey, of those who desire for peace, of those who do not want to fight any more. Unfortunately, wars always precede peace. When Godfrey is on the verge of his last breath, he calls Balian to his chamber where the priest is ready to pray for the dying soul.
Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath. (Pass Balian the ring, and slaps him.) And that’s so you remember it (offer him the sword). [Arise a knight and Baron of Ibelin…]Defend the king. If the king is no more, protect the people.
Godfrey dies sinfully. As he says he is sorry for all sins but one—his son.
Balian realizes he can’t retreat to a village where he can never be somebody. He must fight for his people, for the Holy Land, and he has already kept in mind that his enemies are the Muslims. When he finds a group of Muslims praying on the seashore, one of his subordinates tells him the Muslims think “Praise be to God. It is proper to praise him.” Surprisingly, Balian finds that it is the same way they pray to their god—Jesus. The problem is that Jesus is not Mohammed, and the two cannot live in peace in Jerusalem.
Religion is a big word, too sacred to be imparted with the most eloquent languages, but for Hospitaler the word is not so confusing:
By the word religion, I’ve seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called “will of god”. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. And goodness—what God desires—is here (pointing to Balian’s head) and here (pointing to Balian’s heart), what you decide to do every day, you’ll be a good man…or not.
Jerusalem is ruled by King Baldwin at the time. He was first discovered by Godfrey to be a leper when his hands were cut without the feeling of pain. And yet he has a great mind and ambition when he wins a great battle when was just 16 years old. Godfrey has been one of his greatest teachers, and Balian, being Godfrey’s son, is hospitablely treated by the king.
…you see, none of us choose our end, really. A king may move a man. A father may claim a son. But remember that even when those who move you to be kings or men of power, your soul is your keeping alone. When you stand before God, you cannot say, “But I was told by others to do thus,” or that virtue “was not convenient at the time”. This will not suffice. Remember that.
Now his teachers are almost assembled. He has learned from various minds—Godfrey, Hospitaler, King Baldwin, Khaled Nabawy, Teberias. Still, he has yet to meet his last teacher, the toughest, bravest, Saladin.
King Baldwin dies from his feeble immunity, leaving the kingdom to a traitor—Guy de Lusignan. Most of the Crusaders are killed in the battle between Guy and Saladin, including Hospitaler, the wisest, who assures Balian that death is always certain, that he must fulfill his order. Hospitaler’s head is found among many others and his face is still in smile. Teberias leaves for Europe, giving these words to Balian:
I thought we were fighting for God. Then I realized we were fighting for wealth and land. It was ashamed.
The task of protecting the people leaves to Balian. His last teacher Saladin is also stunned by his courage, and wit. Though at last he surrenders the city of Jerusalem to Saladin, he still wins his people’s admiration, because he is the man that has saved the soldiers’ souls.
Balian: What is Jerusalem worth?
Saladin: Nothing… (laughs) Everything.
The hero returns to his hometown with the reward—the beautiful lady—Sybilla.
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作者的话：
After seeing this movie, the only thought that came into my mind was amazingly gloomy and horrific Medieval times, though some scholars hawked that it was not the same as our imaginations. Being interested in religion, especially the main dominant religions other than Buddhism, I scrutinized the books, movies, and something on the Internet. Then it came into light that it was the religious wars and revolutions, e.g., Crusade, Inquistion, that had driven me into this unknown realm.
It was true that Saladin was a great leader that had ever been seen in Islamic history. Even the Europeans claimed him to be a man of chivalry. His fame for generosity was spread far and wide, and someone, esp. those European monarchs even considered his generosity as the most powerful tool for conquering.作者: ling66 时间: 2006-6-17 01:36
谢谢^小m亲 啊~~~~~~~