Kingdom of Heaven 2005

In the somber landscape of 1184 France, a blacksmith named Balian (Orlando Bloom) is consumed by grief and turmoil following the tragic loss of his wife. The arrival of a group of Crusaders brings an unexpected twist: one of them, introducing himself as Baron Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson), claims to be Balian’s father. Godfrey implores Balian to join him in Jerusalem, but the blacksmith refuses, and the Crusaders depart. The village priest, Balian’s half-brother (Michael Sheen), reveals a dark secret: he had ordered Balian’s wife to be beheaded before burial, a cruel custom for those who took their own lives. As Balian struggles to come to terms with this revelation, his brother’s treachery sparks a violent outburst, culminating in the tragic loss of his sibling.

Seething with anger and a deep sense of betrayal, Balian flees the village, driven by a desperate need for forgiveness and redemption. His journey takes him to the camp of Godfrey, where he hopes to find solace and absolution. However, soldiers led by Godfrey’s nephew arrive, ostensibly to arrest Balian but in reality seeking to eliminate him and claim his father’s barony for themselves. Godfrey refuses to surrender his son, and a brutal battle ensues, resulting in the death of the nephew and Godfrey’s own mortal wound.

As Balian stands witness to his father’s passing, he is knighted by Godfrey and tasked with serving the King of Jerusalem, protecting the innocent, and maintaining peace between Christians and Muslims. Before succumbing to his injuries, Godfrey implores Balian to ensure the king’s reign remains just and fair. With these solemn responsibilities weighing upon him, Balian sets out on a perilous journey to Jerusalem.

A tempestuous storm ravages the sea, grounding Balian’s ship and leaving him as the sole survivor, accompanied only by a horse. As the animal flees in panic, Balian follows, drawn into a confrontation with a Muslim cavalier and his servant. A fierce battle erupts, and despite his reluctance, Balian takes the life of the cavalier when attacked, yet spares the servant, asking him to guide him to Jerusalem.

Upon arriving at his destination, Balian releases the horse to its new master, a gesture of goodwill that sets in motion a chain of events. The servant, a man who had been deeply affected by the cavalier’s death, shares with Balian the truth about his fallen lord: he was a respected knight among the Saracens, and Balian’s actions will earn him renown and respect from these Muslim warriors.

As Balian delves deeper into Jerusalem’s intricate web of politics, he finds himself rubbing shoulders with the city’s most influential figures: the enigmatic King Baldwin IV (Edward Norton), whose leprosy-ravaged body belies his cunning mind; Tiberias (Jeremy Irons), the seasoned Marshal of Jerusalem, who walks a fine line between diplomacy and war; and Princess Sibylla (Eva Green), the King’s sister, whose beauty is matched only by her calculating nature. Meanwhile, Guy De Lusignan (Marton Csokas), driven by ambition and a desire for dominance, seeks to fan the flames of conflict between Christians and Muslims, hoping to eliminate his Muslim foes and claim the Kingdom for himself.

As Balian navigates this treacherous landscape, he finds himself drawn to Sibylla’s charms, and their mutual attraction blossoms into a passionate affair at his Barony in Ibelin. However, it is not just romantic conquests that occupy Balian’s thoughts; he is deeply concerned with the welfare of his people and works tirelessly to improve their lot by digging wells for irrigation and providing access to precious water.

Meanwhile, Guy and his partner in crime, Raynald of Chatillon (Brendan Gleeson), commit a heinous act against a Muslim trade caravan, sparking outrage throughout the city. Saladin (Ghassan Massoud), the formidable leader of the Muslim forces, responds by laying siege to Kerak, Raynald’s castle. Balian, ever the hero, puts himself in harm’s way to protect the villagers fleeing the battlefield, despite Raynald’s pleas for him to retreat.

As the Muslim army closes in on Kerak, Balian finds himself face-to-face with Imad ad-Din (Alexander Siddig), the servant he freed earlier. This chance encounter reveals that Imad is actually Saladin’s trusted Chancellor, who releases Balian into his custody. It is here that Balian learns of the true extent of Raynald’s atrocities and the gravity of the situation.

In the aftermath of this brutal conflict, King Baldwin IV collapses, weakened beyond recovery by the exertions of the battle. As his life slips away, he implores Balian to marry Sibylla, knowing that they share a deep affection for each other. However, Balian refuses, citing Guy’s inevitable wrath and the moral implications of killing him. This principled stance ultimately proves costly, as Baldwin’s passing clears the way for Sibylla to succeed her brother and name her son King.

As Saladin vows to reclaim Jerusalem, the stage is set for a future confrontation that will pit Balian against his own conscience and the relentless drive of his enemies.

As the devastating diagnosis of Leprosy is delivered to his unsuspecting son, Sibylla’s maternal instincts are torn asunder, her anguish mirrored only by her own tragic past. In a desperate bid to spare her child the same fate that befell her brother, she takes the ultimate and unfathomable decision, forever altering the course of history. Meanwhile, Guy (Guy of Lusignan) seizes power, his ambition fueled by Raynald’s ruthless murder of Saladin’s sister, an atrocity designed to provoke war. When Saladin’s emissary arrives with a solemn request for the return of her body and the surrender of Jerusalem, Guy responds with callous brutality, beheading the messenger and dispatching his head to Damascus as a chilling warning.

As the wheels of war are set in motion, Balian (Balian of Ibelin) is targeted by Guy’s agents, who attempt to eliminate him for his vocal opposition. The would-be assassin is foiled, but not before Balian is forced to confront the stark reality of Jerusalem’s vulnerability. Despite the counsel of reason and prudence, the Crusaders, led by Guy and Raynald, march headlong into the desert, leaving their city defenseless except for a handful of brave warriors, including Tiberias and his knights.

The fates prove merciless as Saladin’s army descends upon the unsuspecting Crusaders. The ensuing battle is a slaughter, with Guy and Raynald falling into enemy hands. Saladin executes Raynald in cold blood, then sets his sights on Jerusalem, sparing only Guy due to the traditional courtesies afforded the monarch.

As Tiberias and his men flee to Cyprus, Balian and his loyal knights remain behind, determined to protect the innocent civilians from the approaching horde. Though their chances of victory are slim, they cling to hope, seeking to stall Saladin’s forces until they offer terms. After a three-day bloodbath, Saladin extends an olive branch: in exchange for safe passage out of Jerusalem, Balian agrees to surrender the city.

In the midst of this chaos, Sibylla renounces her claim to the throne and disappears into the fleeing throngs. Later, as Balian returns to his humble life in France, he is visited by English knights seeking his expertise in arms. When their leader, King Richard I of England (Iain Glen), reveals himself, Balian deflects his inquiry, insisting that he is merely a blacksmith. The monarch departs, but not before Sibylla reappears, and the two ride off into a new chapter of life together, passing by the grave of Balian’s beloved wife.