Tristan & Isolde (film)
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| Tristan & Isolde | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Kevin Reynolds |
| Produced by | Ridley Scott Tony Scott Lisa Ellzey Giannina Facio Moshe Diamant Elie Samaha |
| Written by | Dean Georgaris |
| Starring | James Franco Sophia Myles Rufus Sewell |
| Music by | Anne Dudley |
| Editing by | Peter Boyle |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | January 13, 2006 |
| Running time | 125 min. |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Tristan & Isolde is a 2006 German/British/American film based on the medieval romantic legend of Tristan and Iseult. It was produced by Ridley Scott (who had been working on an adaptation since the mid-seventies) and Tony Scott, directed by Kevin Reynolds and stars James Franco and Sophia Myles.
This film is a non-operatic rendition of the plot of Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. The original music score was composed by Anne Dudley.
- Tagline: Before Romeo and Juliet, there was Tristan and Isolde.
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[edit] Synopsis
Tristan & Isolde is set in Britain and Ireland, in the Early Middle Ages, after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. The scattered British settlements are in the process of becoming unified under Lord Marke (Rufus Sewell), who wishes to fortify England against attacks by the Irish king Donnchadh (David O'Hara).
The Cornish knight Tristan of Aerygone (James Franco) engages in combat with Morholt, leader of Donnchadh's army and to whom Princess Isolde (Sophia Myles) has been promised in marriage. Though he kills Morholt and Donnchadh's army is overrun, Tristan is severely wounded in the fight and believed dead, though he is in fact only suffering the effects of having been sliced in the abdomen by Morholt's poisoned sword.
Tristan's 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 and then secretly nurse him back to health. Tristan and Isolde fall in love; however, Isolde does not disclose her real name. After some time Tristan is forced to flee to Cornwall.
Plotting to defeat Britain, Donnchadh proposes a peace treaty, promising his daughter Isolde in marriage to the winner of a tournament. Tristan participates on behalf of his uncle King Marke of Cornwall, unaware that the "prize" Isolde is the woman he fell in love with in Ireland. He wins the tournament, only to discover the truth about Isolde and to see her betrothed to Marke.
Although Marke is kind to Isolde, her heart belongs to Tristan, who is torn between his love for Isolde and his loyalty to Marke, a man whom he has loved as a father. The couple eventually begin an affair behind Marke's back which is later discovered by rivals of the king, weakening his position and setting off a new war with Ireland (abetted by the traitorous Lord Wictred). They often consider ending their relationship for the sake of their duty to Marke.
In Tristan's final attempt to end the relationship, he and Isolde are caught in an awkward situation by all of the kings. The kings decide to part ways with Marke; the alliances are ruined and his wife and son-figure have betrayed him. Marke is at first angry but softens after hearing Isolde explain her history with Tristan and offers them the chance to run away together. Tristan chooses instead to stay in England and fight for his king.
Called away to battle against Donnchadh's forces, he is mortally wounded in combat by Wictred and eventually dies in Isolde's arms after uttering his last words of "You were right. I don't know if life is greater than death. But love was more than either.". Isolde sees to his burial beneath the ashes of the Roman bridge, and plants two willows by the grave, which grow intertwined; she then vanishes and is never seen again.
[edit] 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 dollars at the domestic box office.
[edit] See also
[edit] Main cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| James Franco | Tristan |
| Sophia Myles | Isolde |
| Rufus Sewell | Lord Marke |
| David O'Hara | King Donnchad |
| Mark Strong | Wictred |
| Henry Cavill | Melot |
| Bronagh Gallagher | Bragnae |
| Ronan Vibert | Bodkin |
| J. B. Blanc | Leon |
| Dexter Fletcher | Orick |
| Richard Dillane | Aerygone |
[edit] External links
