Tristan and Isolde:

Battle-borne love

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

The legend of Tristan and Isolde has roots going back as far as the thirteenth century. It opens in the dark ages in an England ruled by the Irish. This is the atmosphere that director Kevin Reynolds and script writer Dean Georgaris have captured in their cinematic venture Tristan and Isolde.

Orphaned by the long battle between the English tribes and the Irish kingdom Tristan takes on the task of defeating the Irish and uniting the tribes of Britain. However he is struck by a poisoned sword in battle. Isolde, the frustrated daughter of the Irish king finds him on the shores of the emerald island and nurses him back to health.

Struck by her beauty and charm, Tristan falls in love with Isolde only to learn that she is promised in hand in marriage to another. He only knows her as a lady of the court because Isolde hides her true identity. Both lovers are unaware of one vital fact that could have changed their destiny. That is the news that Isolde’s betroth is killed by Tristan in the previous combat.

With news of the Irish king willing to auction his daughter to the best warrior, Tristan sets off to win her for his lord. Naturally he wins the battle but loses his zest for living when he is handed his prize only to give her over to King Marke. The theme is a test between true love and loyalties.

Tristan and Isolde comprises some beautiful grimy images which keep our eyes glued to the screen. The mid episodes play on the emotions of the characters beautifully. Once such instance is Tristan’s agony on King Marke and Isolde’s wedding night.

James Franco delivers a fine performance as Tristan, the mythic Cornish hero who appears in some legends as a member of the Knights of the Round Table. Sophia Myles shines as Isolde, playing the character of the Irish princess whose emotions are torn in many directions.

A special mention should be made about Rufus Sewell’s portrayal of King Marke, Isolde’s husband and Tristan’s saviour. There are some fairly delicate scenes involving his deepest feelings, making us waver between pity and admiration. David Patrick O’Hara, Mark Strong, Henry Cavill, Bronagh Gallagher, Ronan Vibert and Lucy Russell make up the rest of the cast.

One of the puzzling aspects of the story is that Tristan’s comrades in battle presume that he is dead and set him adrift on a funeral pyre while Isolde could locate a faint heartbeat on him after discovering his battered body on the shore. Though most legends embody a magical touch, Reynolds had failed to portray this realistically in this episode.

Though the whole story depends on the earth shattering romance between the two protagonists, the love between Tristan and Isolde does not flourish enough to move the audience in its early stages.

It lacks the tenderness of youth romance. So when Tristan is forced to leave a tearful Isolde in Ireland and return home to safety, their separation does not evoke much sadness in our hearts. Rather it seemed to be just another passing scene as the story shifts from one scene to the other, rapidly in some instances and dwelling unnecessarily on others.