Kingdom of Heaven - discussion guide

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Summary

It is the twelfth century and the time of the Crusades. Balian (Orlando Bloom), a blacksmith, is alone and losing his faith since his wife’s recent suicide following the death of their baby. Then he unexpectedly meets his crusader father, Baron Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson), for the first time. His father asks Balian to join him on his journey to Jerusalem. Balian agrees, thinking he can find forgiveness there for himself and for his wife. Not long into the journey, Godfrey dies from injuries caused in an ambush, but not before naming Balian as his heir and knighting him. Balian continues to Jerusalem, surviving a shipwreck and sparing a servant Saracen’s life.

Once in Jerusalem, after settling into his father’s house, Balian meets his father’s friends and enemies. Tiberius (Jeremy Irons) was one of his father’s close friends and is Marshall of Jerusalem. He is trying to help King Baldwin (Edward Norton) keep the tentative peace with Saladin (Ghassan Massoud) the Saracen leader, but groups such as the Knights Templar want a war. Balian also meets Princess Sibylla (Eva Green), the King’s sister. She is unhappily married to Knight Templar Guy de Lusignan (Marton Csokas) who doesn’t think Balian, a mere blacksmith, is worthy of inheriting his father’s title. After meeting King Baldwin, who is so badly ravaged by leprosy that he has to wear a metal mask, Balian is sent to his newly inherited land of Ibelin where he organizes digging for water and soon the land is green and growing again. Princess Sibylla comes to visit him and eventually they sleep together. As the Princess prepares to leave, a warning of Saracen invaders is received and Balian and his troops put up a valiant fight to protect his land. They are defeated and Balian’s life is only spared when the Saracen commander turns out to be the Saracen servant Balian set free.

The King is weakening and has no heir. Knowing that his death would mean that Sibylla would be made Queen and Guy King, Baldwin offers to have Guy executed for his suspected crimes so that Balian can marry Sibylla. Balian refuses and the King dies soon afterwards. Stung by Balian’s rejection, Princess Sibylla is crowned Queen and names her husband as the new King of Jerusalem. He immediately sends some men to kill Balian. Defeating them, Balian refuses to leave Jerusalem as he believes Guy is going to be easily defeated by going to attack Saladin rather than making the Saracen come to Jerusalem. Tiberius decides to leave for somewhere safer but Balian tells him he is going to stay and defend the city. He is a blacksmith and an untried knight but he must use all his experience and ingenuity to try and defend the city he promised to protect and to keep the Queen safe.

Background

There have been criticisms leveled at the film due to some historical inaccuracies. For example, Sibylla was in love with her husband Guy but he did not succeed Baldwin immediately- Sibylla’s son from her first marriage did. Neither Guy nor Reynard were Knights Templar as the film implies and the real Balian (known as Balian the Younger) was an older gentleman and a respected nobleman, not a blacksmith. There was also no romantic relationship between Balian and Sibylla as he was married to Sibylla’s stepmother, Maria Comnena. However much of the film is accurate. The depiction of the siege of Jerusalem for example though it downplays the roles Sibylla and Patriarch Heraclius. Author of Route 66 AD Tony Perrottet states in ‘History vs Hollywood’, a History Channel production on the Special Edition DVD:

‘In its depictions of the battle, it’s as close as we’re going to get to imagining what it was actually like.’

Director Sir Ridley Scott has already directed another historical epic Gladiator (2000), which won five of the twelve Oscars it was nominated for. His other hugely popular works include Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982) and Thelma and Louise (1991). Scott also produced Kingdom of Heaven.

For more on Kingdom of Heaven, check the official site www.kingdomofheavenmovie.com

Questions to Discuss

1. What is your first impression of Balian? How does your view of him change throughout the film? What does he want out of life? What drives him?

2. Which character do you most empathise with? Why? Are there any that you don’t empathise with? Why?

3. What are the key issues in this film?

4. How do you think Balian feels meeting his father for the first time? Why? Do you think he would feel differently if his wife and child were still alive? Have you ever experienced something similar? What happened? How did you feel?

5. ‘God has abandoned you’ (Priest)

Why do you think the Priest tells Balian this? Does Balian agree? How does it affect him? Have you ever felt this way? What happened?

6. Why does Balian show mercy to the servant? What do you think you would have done?

7. How are the two kings, Saladin and Baldwin, different? How are they similar? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

8. Why do you think the Knights Templar want a war? How is religion used to justify the Knights view? Can you think of any modern examples of this? What is your view on this?

9. What do you think motivates the Crusaders? Is it genuine faith or something else? If so, what?

10. Why do you think King Baldwin is so keen to keep the peace with Saladin?

11. Why does Balian refuse King Baldwin’s offer?

12. Why does Balian stay in Jerusalem when Tiberius leaves? What would you have done?

13. How does Balian change by the end of the film? Are they good changes? Why/Why not?

14. What do you think Scott wants us to take away from the film? Why?

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