TRISTAN + ISOLDE

UK, 2006, 126 minutes, Colour.
James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell, David Patrick O’ Hara, Mark Strong, Henry Cavill.
Directed by Kevin Reynolds.

Back into pre-Arthurian times and legends. Like the recent King Arthur, the film-makers have opted for a rather serious and sombre presentation, a darker (grey and blue) palette for the film and lonely and sometimes eerie landscapes. So, this is not a Camelot-like story – well, in fact it really is, at least in plot outline and characters and their tragedies. The ideal marriage between Guinevere and Arthur was undermined by her love for Lancelot. This time, Isolde is married to King Mark but was already in love with Tristan. Kingdoms collapse as a consequence of these loves and betrayals.

The setting is the southwest kingdoms of Britain after the withdrawal of the Romans, the Dark Ages. The tribes are disunited and cannot prevail against the prosperous and warlike Irish. Young Tristan’s father is killed in an Irish attack but Tristan’s life is saved by King Mark who regards him as his own son. Tristan grows up to be the champion but is wounded in another Irish onslaught. He receives the Viking style send-off, lying in state on a burning boat. But, he has been poisoned and is not dead.

Fortunately, and then unfortunately, he is washed up on the Irish shore and found by the king’s daughter, Isolde, who has been betrothed by arrangement with an unwelcome warrior. Definitely unfortunately, she does not tell Tristan, whom she nurses back to health, her real name, so that when Irish and Britons agree to a tournament to win the princess’s hand, Tristan aims to win her as a bride for King Mark.

Guess the rest! And that’s what happens (like Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot all over again – well not quite because history wise, this story precedes Camelot).

James Franco did a great award-wining performance on television as James Dean and is the brooding friend of Peter Parker (alias Spiderman). Brooding seems to be his forte, which means that his Tristan is soulful at best rather than heroic. Sophia Myles as Isolde has much more go in her. It is the supporting cast who really carry the drama: Rufus Sewell very sympathetic as the decent King Mark, Mark Strong absolutely dastardly as the cowardly villain, David O’Hara? as the plotting and conquering Irish king.

The director is Kevin Reynolds who has a strange filmography, especially his matinee like adventures Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, Waterworld, The Count of Monte Cristo and the very silly Rapa Nui. In his defence, he made the frighteningly thoughtful story of problems in US schools, 187. His adventures seem sometimes anachronistic (American accents in Sherwood Forest). However, Isolde is able to quote the poems of John Donne a millennium before they were written. But, they do elevate the dialogue.

1.The legend of Tristan and Isolde? Its relationship to the legends of Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot? The atmosphere of Romeo and Juliet? The use (a thousand years before his time) of John Donne’s Sonnet?

2.A tragedy, in a violent world, love and betrayal, heroism?

3.The Irish settings? The Irish coast? The Czech locations? The castles? The plaintive score?

4.The work of the director, his history with historical epics? In the tradition of the Hollywood historical epics? Action, romance, sadness?

5.The introductory information about the Romans, about the British tribes, about Irish domination? The old religions?

6.The opening with the hunting, the rabbit, Tristan and his father, the question of the uniting of the British tribes, the treaty? The attack, the battle, his father saving Tristan, his death? Mark coming to his rescue, losing his hand? Tristan and his debt to Mark? Lifelong? The being adopted by Mark’s sister, his relationship with Melot? Training to fight as a boy, his reluctance, his anger at the taunts, his supremacy? The passing of time and his growing up as Mark’s adopted son?

7.Isolde as a young girl, the funeral of her mother, her dependence on Bragnae, wanting to sit alone, her growing up, her power of healing, the alienation from her father, wistful? Wanting the meaning of life, wanting to escape? Her father’s betrothing her to the warrior against her will?

8.The portrait of the Irish, the king and his dominance? The attacks on Cornwall? The divisions of the British and the tribes? The British and their map, the development of the treaty, wanting to work together? The mixed loyalties? The battle against the Irish? Tristan’s plan for saving the captives? The two men running, the horsemen chasing them, their being trapped, the Britons in the ground? Going back to the wagon? Freeing them? The battle, Tristan and his fighting – and the death of Isolde’s betrothed?

9.Tristan, personality, his forlorn look? The experience of dying, the Viking boat sent out into the water, the flames? Landing on the Irish coast, the background to Isolde and the poisoning of weapons? His being poisoned, coming to life again? Isolde caring for him, Bragnae’s concern? The sharing, the healing, falling in love?

10.Isolde and wanting to leave the island, her healing powers, her care for Tristan? Her love, but having to let him go?

11.The lords of Britain, Wictrid of Glastonbury? His power, devious? The ambitions? His league with the Irish? The other lords and their weakness?

12.Triston’s return, the idea of the tournament, the Irish king allowing his daughter to be the prize? Wictrid and the plan that he should win and become leader of the Britons?

13.Mark as a good man, his losing his hand to save Tristan’s life? His care for Tristan? His not thinking that Melot was strong enough to lead? The battles, his grief at Tristan’s death, joy at his return? His favouring Tristan as his second? The tournament, Tristan fighting on behalf of Mark? His winning the tournament, the various phases of the battles, Wictrid and his organising his victories? Finally having to yield to Tristan? Tristan discovering that Isolde was not a maid but the king’s daughter? His dismay at her not telling him the truth? The journey back to England? His moping, the marriage ceremony? Mark and his joy, concerned about Isolde, asking Tristan to follow her? His discovery of the truth and his grief?

14.Tristan and Isolde, life at the castle, Tristan and his moping, Isolde and the wedding, the decisions to meet, the lovemaking? The decision to leave? Tristan and his wanting to break the liaison?

15.Wictrid and his seeing the couple, his plan to denounce them, the tunnel into the castle, his plan to lead the Irish? Tristan and his decision, Bragnae and her trying to shield them? Mark finding them together as they bid farewell to each other?

16.Mark and the interrogation of Tristan, Tristan’s silence? Isolde telling Mark the whole story? His being an upright man, providing the boat, sending them away?

17.The Irish king, the exposing of Tristan and Isolde, his disowning his daughter? Reliance on Wictrid? The attack, the siege of the castle, Mark doing battle? Wictrid and Melot in the tunnel, his murdering of Melot after setting him up to believe that he would be king? Melot’s final words to Tristan, that he believed that somebody was affirming him?

18.The defence of the castle, the desperation, the attack of the Irish?

19.Tristan, his coming back, finding Mark, saving him, Tristan being wounded? Isolde coming, her remembering their past? Tristan’s death?

20.Mark, the lords coming together, Tristan holding up Wictrid’s head? The uniting of the tribes?

21.The variety of characters in the film, at the Irish court, the advisers and warriors? The English nobles? The film giving a feel for the period?