“Kingdom of Heaven” Film Analysis Essay

Introduction

The kingdom of heaven is a film whose plot is in France. It is a reflection of how people of different cultures and religions fight for the possession of a city. The crusaders travel from Jerusalem into France looking for crusaders that would support them in protecting Jerusalem from Muslim invasion. It is a movie that involves endless battles as the key principles aim at destroying those that they feel are stumbling blocks to their victory.

The movie opens with an incident where the wife of Balian who is the main character had just committed suicide. Certain cultural values need to be followed to facilitate her burial¹. This leads to the death of Balian’s brother who he kills after discovering that he was wearing the crucifix of his late wife. Various themes have been revealed in the movie that the characters reveal through the events. In this paper, we are going to critically discuss some of the prevalent themes as well as the roles played by certain characters and their significance to historic events.

Politics

Politics is the main driving force behind the wars that have been experienced in Jerusalem. As the different ethnic communities fight for their treasures, they become aware of their capabilities and abilities to possess what they desire. In their fight for political supremacy, we see the Muslim and Christian leaders fighting over the possession of Jerusalem, for instance, Selah and Balian. The Christians have been displayed to be a people that were mainly seeking political supremacy in the movie. To facilitate this, they had to seek the help of other crusaders beyond their borders². The search began when Godfrey set off to France together with other crusaders to find favour with Balian in the protection of Jerusalem. They were however unable to convince Balian but made a lasting impact. After killing his half brother and being haunted by the same, Balian decides to embark on a journey to seek his father’s pardon. On the way to Jerusalem, he is encountered by a Muslim cavalier and his servant who are Muslim leaders that are also fighting for Jerusalem.

In his anger, he kills the master but spares the servant who leads him up to Jerusalem. On his arrival to Jerusalem, Balian is supported by the anti-Muslim group that facilitates his elevation. He is appointed by Godfrey’s retainers and also receives favour from the political leaders of Jerusalem like King Baldwin IV, Tiberias who is the Marshall of Jerusalem, Sibylla who is the King’s sister, Princess and her husband Guy de Lusignan. There is a rift among the political leaders about who should take over the leadership, Balian ignores some of the instructions that he is given by the king. This leads to more bloodshed with possible candidates seeking ways of eliminating their opponents so that they have an opportunity to lead³. As the battle on who should take over, there is yet the reality of determining how the city shall be maintained to the right people. Apart from the fame that may come with such leadership, there is the need for the leaders to fight and ensure that the city is maintained. However, as the battle rages, it becomes clear that the city is taken over by the Muslims that makes Balian go back to his home country and back to his previous profession.

Society

The movie represents two societies, Christians and Muslims. Within the groups, there are political and religious factions with each group determined to take over the city. What has come out is that to gain certain political supremacy, it will have to involve movement and probable bloodshed. For a win over the other opponent, then someone has to be killed. In search of supporters to defend Jerusalem, Godfrey travels to France in search of his son. He is accompanied by other crusaders with the hope that they will finally convince Balian to join them in Jerusalem⁴. Amidst all this, Balian kills his half-brother, an incident that prompts him to look for his father in Jerusalem. His battle for political supremacy may have just begun when on his way; he encounters a Muslim supporter and his servant.

They engage in battles that made him kill the master and spare the servant. This is a clear indication of the battle that existed between the two societies; Muslims and Christians. This means that the Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem could be so much familiar with each other that they require some outside forces to facilitate war. The way they relate to each other makes them not to easily engage in fights. As they go to Jerusalem, they are also encountered different societies that have a different views of leadership and politics. In these two societies, it seemed like wars were the main determinant of how strong a party is, to take over Jerusalem⁵. As the Christians concentrated on determining who may be the next successor, the Muslims are busy sharpening their arrows for war. In the long run, the Christians seem to give up on the war as Muslims take over the main worshipping centres. However, there is a certain degree of respect that is revealed between the societies⁶.

Economics

The city of Jerusalem had some economic significance that caused a rift between the different societies. They knew that winning the city would have certain economic gains to their societies⁷. Jerusalem is historically known to be a productive city with several architectural designs that are likely to attract the attention of foreigners. It is known as the holy city of our Lord Jesus which has a lot of religious significance to the Christians. Christians generally consider Jerusalem as their city and hence doing all that they could to ensure that they protect and guard it. Many people all over the world especially of Christian descent flock to the city to behold some of the historical sites. As they do this, they pay some revenue to the government which goes back to the development of the nation. There are hence different economic values that the different societies hold towards the city of Jerusalem that is motivating them to fight for its possession.

Culture

Culture has been displayed among the different societies uniquely. As much as some characters have shown commitment to their 12^th-century cultural values, some, like Balian seem to be less concerned about them. For instance, at the beginning of the movie, Balian is told that his late wife needs to be beheaded before she is buried. This is an issue that was brought up by Balian’s half-brother whom he, later on, kills when he found him with his late wife’s crucifix, Balian’s brother reaction was due to the cultural beliefs of the catholic religion about a person that had committed suicide. Balian seemed to care less about the cultural beliefs that surrounded him basically because he lived in the 21^st century rather than his brother who was still in the 12^th century. However, after killing his brother, he is haunted to the level of setting out on a journey to Jerusalem to look for his father⁸.

He may probably have understood that the only alternative that remained for him was to ask for his father’s forgiveness. Culture has also been displayed in the instances whereby the Christians are fighting for the protection of Jerusalem. It is believed that the city is a historical symbol for all Christian believers who have to play a role in protecting and maintaining its peace. There is such confidence within them about the city which makes them confident about their victory. However, there could have been a reluctance within them that made them lose the city to the Muslims. The battle seems to have no end as they remain optimistic about reclaiming the city. Culture has also been displayed by the Muslims even as they take over the city; they symbolize it by replacing the cross with the moon. This is a clear indication that they have taken over the city and hence have a right to transforming the worship centres into their own. Respect and dignity are revealed even through the victory of the Muslims when Saladin picks the fallen cross and places it back to the table.

Historical perspective

Jerusalem is a historical city to the Christians, Muslims and the Jews due to the historical sites that are attached to their religious beliefs. Despite its historical significance to the Christians, it has had almost equal occupants of both the Christians and the Muslims. The movie is a reflection of the battles that the city has had to go through in different historical settings with each of the conflicting groups claiming its political supremacy. The different groups were having different objectives why they should be the main occupants of the city. For the Christians, it would be mainly because of the religious attachments that they hold towards the city and the need for them to establish a Christian dominion over it.

It is believed that the founder of the Christian faith who is Jesus Christ spent some moments of his life in the city and had a passion for its salvation. Reading through the biblical verses, he commissions the Christians to protect and defend Jerusalem⁹. The Christians are hence not giving up on the battle for Jerusalem basically because they have to fulfil the great commission that their Lord gave them. The Muslims on the other hand could be angry because the Christians possess a land where they also have a share. They are fighting for it as their right of inheritance. As this has been going on, Jerusalem remains to be a city that has experienced several battles as no party is willing to give it up for the other. Saladin on the other hand is more concerned about the political supremacy that they will have after possessing the city. This is in terms of the revenues that come from the yearly visitors and the prestige of occupying such a treasured city.

Conclusion

Kingdom of heaven is a figurative name that was used to showcase the battles that took place in the city of Jerusalem. The title of the movie could have been adapted due to the attachment that the Christian believers have towards the city. It is believed by Protestants that after Christ comes back for His church, there will be a New Jerusalem which is a reflection of the good life that they will live in heaven. Jerusalem is hence commonly known as the kingdom of heaven according to the Christian teachings¹⁰. The title of the movie could also have been reached at considering the battles that are continually being fought in the city by various groups who want to possess it. Certain spiritual and physical treasures in Jerusalem are not found in any other area that has made it to be the most disputed city in the world. Treasures that can be only be compared to the kingdom of heaven.

Works cited

Ali, Bashir. Jesus Christ and the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. New York: PublishAmerica, 2007.

Gabrieli, Francesco. Arab historians of the Crusades. California: University of California Press, 1978.

Hotema, Hilton. Kingdom of Heaven. New York: Health Research Books, 1997.

Ishavardas. Beyond the kingdom of heaven: after the fact, mystic musings. Fakeer Ishavardas, 2002.

Landau, Diana & Scott, Ridley. Kingdom of heaven: the Ridley Scott film and the history behind the story. London: Newmarket Press, 2005.

Maalouf, Amin. The Crusades Through Arab Eyes. London: Saqi Books, 2003.

Phillips, Rob. The Kingdom According to Jesus: A Study of Jesus’ Parables on the Kingdom of Heaven. California: CrossBooks, 2009.

Riley-Smith, Jonathan. The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2003.

Footnotes

1. Ishavardas. Beyond the kingdom of heaven: after the fact, mystic musings. London: (Fakeer Ishavardas, 2002), 56.
2. Landau, Diana & Scott, Ridley. Kingdom of heaven: the Ridley Scott film and the history behind the story. (London: Newmarket Press, 2005), 65.
3. Riley-Smith, Jonathan. The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading. (New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 200), 139-142.
4. Gabrieli, Francesco. Arab historians of the Crusades. (California: University of California Press, 1978), 89.
5. Maalouf, Amin. The Crusades Through Arab Eyes. (London: Saqi Books, 2003), 26.
6. Riley-Smith, Jonathan. The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading. (New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2003) 82.
7. Ali, Bashir. Jesus Christ and the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. (New York: PublishAmerica, 2007), 89.
8. Phillips, Rob. The Kingdom According to Jesus: A Study of Jesus’ Parables on the Kingdom of Heaven. (California: CrossBooks, 2009), 56.
9. Maalouf, Amin. The Crusades Through Arab Eyes. (London: Saqi Books, 2003), 68.
10. Hotema, Hilton.The Kingdom of Heaven. (New York: Health Research Books, 1997), 45.