Since the beginning of "Gladiator", Hollywood has set off a wave of "epic films". However, with the magnificent "Homer Epic" being translated into a multi-angular love affair with a handsome star ("Troy"), the legendary king of England has become a tasteless martial artist ("King Arthur"). Love and neurotic chatter ("Alexander the Great")...The audience and critics have a series of questions: Can we still see the grand history and legend of epic films?
Fortunately, Hollywood still has a golden sign: Ridley Scott. If there is any director whose work can be described as "excellent with few defects", Scott counts as one. "Alien", "Blade Runner", "Black Rain", "The Strange Flower", "Gladiator", "The Silent Lamb 3", "Black Hawk Down", and this is the revival of the epic genre New work: "Kingdom of Heaven".
The story takes place in 1184. During the Third Crusade, the Frankish blacksmith Balian (Orlando Bloom) was summoned by his long-lost father to seek salvation for his wife who committed suicide (in Catholic teachings). Suicides cannot ascend to heaven) and came to the holy city of the three religions—Jerusalem. In the meantime, his father died, he inherited the title and fief, and soon found himself caught in the vortex of crusade politics: at that time, the leprosy King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem and the legendary Arab hero-"God of War" Saladin Maintaining a fragile peace, hoping to build Jerusalem into a homeland of religious coexistence and national harmony (what a lofty and difficult ideal...), but the belligerent led by Lusignan (brother-in-law of Baldwin IV) and Reynald The forces continued to provoke disputes by attacking Muslims, and soon the war finally became inevitable. This is the famous "War of Harting" in history.
According to historical records, the Crusaders and the Jerusalem coalition were defeated. Saladin killed all the prisoners. The sky was filled with vultures foraging, making the sun invisible for a few miles. The blood of Europeans made the rocks red for decades. After the victory, the Muslim army immediately swept their troops straight to the defensive holy city of Jerusalem, and the Europeans began to flee. At this time, Balian stepped forward and led the people in the city to resist dozens of times the enemy and the invincible Saladin. After defeating the repeated attacks of the Muslim army, he forced Saladin to sign the alliance under the city to give up the holy city. The price was exchanged for the safe evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in the city and the integrity of Jerusalem. This is the famous "Battle of the Siege of Jerusalem".
(It should be noted that the plot frame in the movie is basically faithful to history. The role of Balian is indeed a person in history. The Battle of Hattin and the Siege of Jerusalem are also real historical events. Other characters, Such as Saladin, Baldwin IV, Lusignan, Reynald, Jerusalem Army commander Tiberias, Balian’s lover-Baldwin IV’s sister Hibera, and others are also real people.)
In the "post-911 era" "It will undoubtedly require courage to launch such a movie with the theme of the Crusades and the Christian-Islam conflict. Once such a sensitive subject matter is not handled properly, it is easy to cause controversy and criticism from all walks of life. Many people believe that the controversy caused by Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" is still fresh in the memory of many people. Fortunately, this time it is Ledley Scott, the master director who is hailed by Hollywood as the "King of the Crusades" once again with his unquestionable artistic level and superb control of epic movies for us A feast of vision and soul was served.
What this movie conveys to us is not the value judgment between religions, the moral evaluation of conquering and killing, the difference between the noble and the low of God’s chosen people and the heretics, and it is not a one-dimensional interpretation of historical events. Rather, it extols a kind of idealism that has always been exalted in religious and ethnic disputes---conscience runs through disputes and "for the people" is the highest morality.
Since the "911" and "Iraq War", "the conflict between ethnicity and religion" has become the focus of public opinion. The demonization of the Islamic world has gradually become a popular understanding. In this context, the "Crusade" with the main purpose of the "crisis" of the Christian world against the Islamic world has naturally become a hot topic. Bush has called the current US military intervention in the Middle East the "new crusade" in many speeches. So, how did Scott interpret this history?
At the beginning of the film, there is a subtitle: "European army has occupied Jerusalem for more than 100 years...At that time, people were poor, politically dark, people rushed to the east, or pursued wealth, or sought salvation... ..." A few words clarified the basic attitude of the film: the so-called "Crusades" was not a "sacred war" for "pastaging the heretics" as proclaimed by the Christian world at that time. Many reasons are for aggression and plunder. When interviewed by reporters, Scott was even more outspoken: "They want to ransack the palace full of treasures in Jerusalem."
Medieval Europe was a "dark age" ruled by priests and knights, and this class not only monopolized it. Political and economic power also monopolizes cultural power. The vast majority of ordinary people are illiterate and cannot even read the Bible. The peasants who lost their land became the vassals of the lord class in terms of economic and personal relations. In that era, Jerusalem was a free and open international metropolis where several civilizations blended together. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam coexisted harmoniously here. It is conceivable that this "Eastern" full of wealth and civilization has naturally become a piece of fat to be cut in the hearts of Europeans, and this has led to the so-called "Crusade". In Scott's eyes, it was a "crazy age".
However, simply attacking one party is obviously not the subject of the film. After revealing the invading nature of the "Crusades", Scott did not forget to tell us: in this cross current, there are also some noble men with honor and faith. For example, the movie’s protagonist Balian, Balian’s father Sir Abelin, Jerusalem army commander Tiberias, and Baldwin IV wearing a silver mask are loyal Christians, but their attitude towards other religions is more To be tolerant and wiser, these people are "enlightened people" in this conflict-filled world. Correspondingly, Lusignan, who planned the war behind the scenes, and Reynald, who provoked the dispute on the front line, and others.
It is not difficult for us to find how similar such contradictions and conflicts are to today's reality. We can see some very familiar symbols and messages: Fundamentalism and cosmopolitanism, extremists and moderates, conservatives and liberals...
When Reynald led troops to attack the Muslim caravans and provoked trouble , To destroy the hard-won fragile peace. It is not difficult for us to find the 21st century version from TV news such as "bus explosion";
disputes arise immediately, facing a dozen times more enemies, Lusignan and Tiberias While arguing whether to declare war, Lusignan raised his arms and shouted "God Volition (God's will)!" The crowd was enthusiastic and blood boiled. Tiberias had no choice but to smile helplessly at the sound of "God Volition"... It is easy to think of how some “Volitions” who are as sacred and inviolable as “God” instigate public opinion and push a nation into the quagmire of radicalism; in the
face of these conflicts and helplessness, Scott uses the protagonist Barry An Zhikou made his own answer:
-"If Jerusalem is not a country of conscience, then it is nothing."
-"You must do things without asking your conscience. Don't say that it is expedient."
-"No. Under the guise of divine will, behave nonsense."
After the opportunity for peace was arbitrarily destroyed by careerists, Balian demonstrated the noble qualities of a true idealist: trying his best to maintain peace, but if war is inevitable, he will stand up and never back down. He assumed the honor and responsibility of a knight to defend his home and country. At this time, those radical figures who chanted "Jesus army is invincible" have long since escaped.
Saladin's army failed to attack the city of Jerusalem, which was united, and was unable to do anything. At this time, Balian once again showed his wisdom and understanding. After receiving Saladin’s promise to "not massacre the city", he decided to return Jerusalem to Muslims, saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the city who had suffered heavy casualties and avoiding the fate of the holy city from being destroyed. The film extols these two. Perhaps the only way to make a wise move between heroes is that both sides can maintain their complete dignity and responsibility. Scott is here to tell us: In this land where Christians and Muslims must live together, "burning jade and stone" is the most unbearable choice. In this regard, the "Washington Post" commented that "this is a dream of the possibility of peace in the Middle East."
There is a dialogue in the film that can be called a classic: after the negotiation in the city, Balian asked Saladin: "What is in Jerusalem? Value?" Saladin replied: "Nothing". After taking a few steps, Saladin turned around, thumbs up with both hands, and waved hard on his chest: "Everything!"
Yes, this "three teachings" "Holy Land", a thousand-year-old city, has carried too much vicissitudes and history. Today, we still have to continue licking our wounds. In the repeated struggles and contests between "We want to massacre" and "The world is one family", it is "Nothing". Or "Everything", it all depends on the world's choice. For Balian, the trip to Jerusalem was a journey and a journey of soul. His search for salvation eventually attributed to the idealism of "a family in the four seas". For religions who have been struggling for thousands of years, coexisting in the holy, harmonious, and harmonious "Jerusalem" may be the way to redeem toward the true "kingdom of heaven."
Kingdom of Heaven is actually in our hearts.
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