“The Sword of God”
By Lucian
Tim Roth as Simon
Danny Glover as Affin
Alexis Denisof as Stephen
Viggo Mortensen as Andrew
Kenneth Branagh as Lord of the manor
Directed by Peter Jackson
Opening Visual: Pope Gregory VIII addresses a huge audience.
Voice Over: On
Visual: Crusader army besieging a city. Huge siege engines are pushed across the battlefield as fire and arrows rain down on the crusaders.
Voice Over: In 1189 King Richard I, later called Richard the Lion-Hearted, was crowned King of England.
Visual: Coronation of King Richard.
Voice Over: Richard’s dedication to the
crusade to retake the
Visual: English soldiers loading into
boats, ships travelling through a storm. They are joined with ships from
numerous other
Voice over: The British soldiers
arrived near the city of
Cut to a shot of a crusader on the deck
of one of the English galleys as it lands. We learn his name is Simon and he
seems nervous as the boat unloads. His immediate commander Andrew, a sullen and
taciturn man, leads them into the lightly fortified encampments the other
crusaders have built to protect their position outside of
Over the campfire that night we meet
Simon’s fellows. None of the men are particularly young. The first, Stephen is
an extremely earnest and deeply religious man who truly believes in the Holy
cause of retaking the
The others are hardly religious at all. Fredrick is a street criminal sent to the Crusades to get out of going to jail. Timothy is a struggling Irish farmer who enlisted it the British army to try to get enough money to keep his family from losing their ancestral farm. Angus is a Scot who chose to join the British in keeping control over his own people after he lost a duel with a rival clan leader. Andrew, the commander, is a career soldier, who makes it very clear his main concern is staying alive and that if any of them put him in danger he’ll gladly leave them to die or cut their throats for insubordination. Finally, the talk turns to Simon and what he is doing there.
In a flashback we learn that Simon was approached by his local Lord an older man who cannot hope to join the Crusade himself but is required by King Richard to supply a number of men. For the most part he has brought in a band of ruffians, savages and thieves plus one religious fanatic (the other crusaders we have just met). But if he doesn’t supply any locals then he may look suspicious. Simon is the only man in the area who is unmarried and not required on a farm or orchard. The Lord, a gentle man, refuses to order Simon to go but asks him, out of duty, if he will. Simon does not hesitate in accepting.
The next day, the group receives orders from a higher ranked officer and a priest. They are to patrol the local area to ensure the local residents are under control. The Priest warns them that while most of the locals are infidels there are a few families that have converted to Christianity and these ones are not to be harmed.
The band sets out, none of them speak the local language. So their “control” of the locals amounts to little more than roughing them up. Finally, at one home, they are met by a young man with only one leg who speaks a little English. He tries to prevent them from entering the house which causes suspicion from Andrew. While he and Timothy subdue the man the others check the small dwelling to find a number of young Muslim women cowering in fear.
The one legged man tries to explain that he is only sheltering a number of women who’s husbands or brothers were lost in the fighting or are still at war. This only spurs Andrew to accuse him of supporting the enemy as well while Fredrick wonders if he might be running a harem for enemy soldiers, or perhaps a private one for himself.
Andrew continues to bully the man while Angus and Fredrick begin to harass the women. They seem on the verge of raping them when the one-armed man claims to be a Christian sheltering them out of charity. Andrew is dubious but Stephen insists on questioning him. The man is able is to answer questions on Christianity well enough to satisfy Stephen but Andrew is dubious. As Simon and Stephen watch Andrew orders the man’s other leg broken (which Timothy does) while Angus and Fredrick rape several of the women. Stephen is utterly disgusted and continually prays to Jesus for forgiveness. Simon seems troubled but simply stays out of the way.
Back around the campfire that night most of the men seem angry at Stephen. Insulting comments are aimed at him and Angus in particular attempts to provoke him with derogatory comments about religion. The final straw is Fredrick reminding Stephen that God is everywhere just as he pisses on a patch of ground. Stephen eventually separates himself from the others. Though Andrew remains silent throughout Angus and Fredrick laugh uproariously and Timothy goes along with them. After a few moments Simon rises to talk to Stephen.
Simon finds him sitting alone at the edge of the encampment. Around them hooting and shouting can be heard and drunken soldiers stumble past occasionally.
“How can these men be the soldiers of God?” Stephen asks.
“I’m not sure.” Simon “Perhaps these men need the Crusade to atone in God’s eyes.”
“Atone? How? By raping and beating other Christians? We are here to free the holiest of places not to sully it with further sin.”
“I don’t know Stephen. But if we are on
such a holy quest why did we stop to sack
“The Byzantines stole from our shipwrecked sailors!”
“Because God sent a storm.”
“God always challenges us. We must be strong in the face of temptation for we are all sinners.”
“Even you.”
“Yes even me, that’s why I wanted to come on the crusade. I can’t afford a papal indulgence, this will keep me from going to Purgatory.”
“I don’t know about Purgatory. But a lot of people are going to die here. And maybe they’ll be better off in the next world but something tells me it’s going to get a lot worse here before it gets better.”
Fade into the next day. Saladin’s forces have been spotted moving towards the eastern trenches and a number of the British forces are ordered to engage while the French attempt a siege of the city. Simon’s squad joins with other infantry from many countries and prepares to hold the trench from an assault.
The group waits nervously as the opposing infantry attacks. Arrow fire fills the air and both sides suffer casualties. Then the Turkish infantry hits the line. Simon and the other fight in close combat Screams of rage and anguish drown out all sounds. Simon fights with fury but little training and barely escapes being killed on several occasions. Around him he can see his fellows faring only slightly better. Finally the infantry charge is broken and the Turks begin to retreat. The British are ordered forward to follow and knights take the field to follow the retreating infantry. Turkish horsemen engage the European knights and the advancing European infantry is caught in the middle. Simon, in the middle of the field, is overwhelmed by the noise, the site of the dead and wounded and the smell of blood and death around him. He can see Stephen, fighting like a man possessed charging forward and hacking into the enemy. But Stephen advances beyond the European line and finds himself surrounded by the enemy. Simon moves forward trying to come to his aid but suddenly Andrew is beside him ordering him to fall back. Simon protests but Andrew repeats his order, reminding him the price of disobedience.
Simon turns to look again and as he does he sees Stephen stabbed through the side by a Turkish sword. Somehow, over the din of the battle, he hears Stephen cry out in pain. Several other Turks move in and knock him down and proceed to brutally hack him to pieces. As Andrew grabs him and physically pulls him back towards the trenches Simon can hear Stephen cry out to God to save him as the scene dissolves in a number of Turks hacking down into his prone body.
Back at the trench Stephen turns on Andrew.
“You abandoned him! You left him to die! One of our own.”
“Listen to me you idiot.” Andrew says. “I knew he was going to die. I knew all along. The man was a fanatic. For all I know he came here wanting to die so he could ensure his way into heaven. Men like him get themselves and other men killed out here. Faith has no place on a crusade! You just be damn sure you don’t wind up the same way.”
Over the next few days the battle continues sporadically. We see Simon and the others fighting in several skirmishes over that time. While Simon fights well, slowly improving, he seems emotionless. Finally Saladin’s forces retreat but the defender’s victory is short-lived as they learn the French have abandoned their siege.
Back in camp word spreads that Richard’s navy have captured a large Muslim supply ship bound for the city. The naval blockade is now firmly in place. Better ale is broken out to celebrate and Stephen drinks with the others of his regiment all of whom have managed to escape serious injury. Angus, Fredrick and Timothy are in great spirits but Andrew and Stephen remain sullen. Although they cannot criticize their commander the three have no problem picking on Simon.
Back in camp word spreads that Richard’s navy have captured a large Muslim supply ship bound for the city. The naval blockade is now firmly in place. Better ale is broken out to celebrate and Stephen drinks with the others of his regiment all of whom have managed to escape serious injury. Angus, Frederick and Timothy are in great spirits but Andrew and Stephen remain sullen. Although they cannot criticize their commander the three have no problem picking on Simon.
At first they mock him for missing “little God boy”. Finally Frederick and Angus begin to insinuate they were lovers. Simon remains silent until Angus open states “Yeah, I thought God was against buggery.”
At this Simon stands, coldly, dispassionately and moves around the fire to stand next to Angus. Angus tenses, sensing an imminent fight but appearing to relish the prospect.
“Did you say something” asks Simon in a cold, detached voice.
“Are ye a deaf sodomite too?” Angus replies with contempt. He stands drawing himself face to face with Simon. “Well?”
Simon punches him in the gut. Within moments the two are locked together and wrestling on the ground. Angus gains the upper hand, pinning Simon down and lands one solid blow on his chin. As he draws back to deliver another a sword flashes in front of his throat.
“Enough.” Says Andrew sternly. “They’ll be plenty of killing still to come.”
Angus takes a few moments to collect himself. “If we live through this then we’ll settle this.” Angus vows to Simon before spitting in his face. He climbs to his feet, leaving Simon dazed on the ground. “I need to take a piss.” exclaims Angus loudly as he wanders away. Andrew pulls Simon to his feet and orders him to get some sleep.
At dawn Andrew awakens Simon and tells
him to follow him. They approach close to city walls where roofs have been
built to allow the crusaders to approach the city itself and fill in the moat
around it. The moat is close to full. From inside the wall flaming arrows and
other objects are occasionally tossed onto the roof forcing workers below to
risk getting shot as they extinguish the fires. In other places sappers attempt
to dig under the wall. Finally a loud "thoom" is heard and Andrew
leads Simon near the largest of the British siege engines. These huge stone
throwers and ballisti fire large spear or rocks up to 150 pounds in size
killing defenders and shattering the walls. As pieces of the wall fall away
soldiers race forward to try to grab them, many of who are shot by the city's
defenders. Andrew explains that King Richard has offered 4 pieces of gold for
every rock a soldier can bring him from the wall and these desperate men are
risking death for the payment. Andrew also explains how Richard has bought
these machines form
"This is the future." Andrew earnestly tells Simon "Someday soon machines will fight wars for people. The days of sending soldiers to their deaths will be over and I plan to live to see that day." Behind them the sound of rocks shattering the walls can be heard along with the moans of the dying men shot while trying to gather rocks from the rubble.
The next day, with the siege having broken many holes in the walls, a major offensive is ordered. At the same time Saladin again orders his troops outside the city to attack. Simon and the others are again ordered to engage the attacking Turkish forces.
In the largest battle yet the Crusaders fight a lengthy battle against a huge Turkish force. Scenes show the pattern, the Turks assault the trenches and then retreat, the Crusaders pursue the retreating Turks until other forces are sent forth to engage them at which point the fall back to the trenches and, after a brief rest period, the cycle repeats.
Through it all Simon fights with a cold, detached brutality. Finally, as they catch their breath between sorties Timothy approaches Simon.
"Listen," Timothy says "I'm sorry about what I said about you."
Simon raises his eyebrow in surprise.
"It's just, out here you really can't care about anything. This is…this is a nightmare. All I can care about is getting back to my family with enough money to save our home. If you care about what you see in your nightmare then it will haunt you after you wake up."
"A nightmare…yes, yes of course."
"So the jokes, well, they're just riding along with the nightmare. I don't need the others turning on me."
Simon seems dazed, more distant. He nods weakly "Of course."
"Thanks."
The next charge approaches. The archers on both sides fire, the infantry crouch under their shields until the order is heard to prepare for to repel infantry. Down the trenches orders are repeated in German, French and Italian.
The Turks hit the line and are pushed back. Simon and his companions kill a number of invaders but not before one of them manages to impale Fredrick through the chest, killing him. A few moments later the Turks retreat and the Crusaders are ordered to pursue. The knights are also sent forward to engage. As Simon and the others storm forward Turkish infantry is unleashed. Soon the battlefield is a confusing mess of soldiers, horses and the dead.
We see Simon's point of view. He seems to be seeing the battlefield as if in a dream. In slow motion he moves down the field. Ahead a group of Turks, several wounded, are moving as well. As the score swells with ethereal music Simon's view is bathed with red light. His sword is in his hand but hangs down his side. He moves as if he is sleepwalking.
We see a shot of Andrew watching him wandering away. He considers for a moment then turns away to attack another Turkish knight who has been unhorsed.
Following the stragglers Simon moves away from the main battle. The noise subsides as the music rises. Finally, Simon is away from the battle. The stragglers he is following continue to look back at him but continue. One of them falls to the ground but the others leave the fallen one.
Simon approaches, he seems to still be wandering aimlessly rather than actually following the others. He steps, almost absently, over the fallen Turk who suddenly springs up and slashes Simon upward under his armoured vest opening a gaping wound in his side.
From Simon's viewpoint the world seems to spin and the red light washes over everything as he collapses to the ground.
Confused images of light and darkness. A strange dark figure is glimpsed, perhaps Death in his robe? The scene dissolves into fire and we hear Simon whimpering as if facing the torment of Hell until suddenly…
Simon awakes. He is lying on crude bed in a small shack, much like the ones he and his fellows searched through earlier. Near by an old man, a local in a flowing robe and turban, watches him.
“Where am I?” asks Simon weakly. He pulls back the blanket to reveal his wound has been bandaged.
“You are in my home. Where you have been for several days. I was not sure you would survive but I believe you may.”
“How did I?”
“I found you near the battlefield and bound your wounds. Then I brought you here. I have cared for you since.”
“I need no help from you.” Simon makes a move to stand but collapses back in pain.
“I believe you do.”
“Then I’ll accept no help from you.”
“Why is that?”
“You’re an infidel.”
The old man chuckles. “Am I? Then perhaps I am like the Samaritan your Jesus Christ spoke of.”
“My God would not want me to have your help.”
“Young man, if your God wished you to die then I think it is within his power to see you dead. It seems he has more in mind for you.”
Simon has no answer to this and his strength leaves him. Soon he is unconscious again.
Over several days we see the old man caring for Simon who drifts in and out of consciousness. He seems to gradually be recovering. They talk about minor matters. The Old Man, who’s name is Affin, is a Muslim but he worked as a translator in times past and knows much of Christianity; in some case even more than Simon.
One night Simon awakes and the old man enters. Simon is beaded with sweat and seems frightened. Affin wipes his face and gives him a small cup of water. When Simon calms Affin asks him “Who is Stephen?”
Simon looks at him with a flash of anger “A man you soldiers butchered.”
“Ah, then much like my sons who were killed by your soldiers.”
“Sons?”
“Four strong boys. All eager to serve Saladin against the…infidels would be the best word.”
“Us infidels?”
“We are all infidels to someone.”
“You can toss terms around all you want
but your forces hold
“Tell me then Christian what makes a city holy?”
“Our saviour lived and died there.”
“Ah so is the offal pile your saviour shit in also holy?”
“Blasphemy.”
“Perhaps. But I wonder if your pope debates the importance of recovering the true crap as much as he desires the True Cross?”
Simon is too tired to argue. He lies back to sleep.
When he awakens another figure is moving in the building. It is a woman in full Muslim garb. When he stirs she flees from the hut.
Later when Affin arrives Simon asks him about the woman. He explains that she is his daughter, his only surviving child. She is living with him in another nearby shack. The shack Simon is in belonged to Affin’s son. Simon, for the first time, thanks Affin for his courtesy. This seems to please the old man.
Later Simon begins to move around. Though he is in bad shape he is recovering and getting his strength back. As he explores his shack he discovers his sword and armour hidden under a cloak and exactly where the woman had been searching when he awoke and discovered her.
That night he pretends to sleep and she again enters his shack. As she quietly picks up the sword he speaks to her.
“Are you afraid of me?” he asks gently.
She drops the sword in panic, turns to see him and then flees from the house.
The next morning Affin leads his daughter into Simon’s shack. Affin looks at his daughter sternly.
“My daughter tried to steal something from you. You are our guest and I have told her how disappointed I am. Jarid I give you permission to speak to this man.”
Shyly, with his eyes averted and with halting English she says “I…am sorry sir. It was wrong of me to doubt our guest.”
“Thank you” Simon says ”Rest assured you have nothing to fear from me.”
“You may go child.” Says Affin and Jarid practically flees again.
“She seems afraid of me.”
“In some ways she is. But mostly it is improper for her to speak to a man, particularly a…Westerner, without supervision.”
“I see.” Simon seems disappointed.
“I have good news for you.”
“You do?”
“Yes,
“They have?”
“Yes. I understand there are to be terms of some sort. I am not sure what they are but, for now, the fighting is over.”
“Well, I’m glad.”
“I am not so little a patriot I am pleased to have lost but I would prefer no more sons die. Anyone’s sons.”
Over the next several days Simon
regains much of his strength and begins to help out with the work of the small
farm Affin owns. With much of their livestock and meagre crops taken by
soldiers from one side or the other, plus the burden of feeding and caring for
Simon, they are having real trouble making ends meet. Simon keeps trying to get
a chance to talk to Jarid but she continues to avoid him.
Simon is trying to repair the roof on
Jarid's hut when Affin arrives. He appears to have been crying. Simon tries to
determine what has happened and finally manages to get the story from Affin. Richard
has slaughtered the people of
"Crusaders just like me…" Simon says as he wanders back into his hut. He picks up his sword and his armour and sits absently polishing them as he cradles them in his lap. Time passes and the sun begins to set. He is finally disturbed from his polishing by noise outside. He moves to the door to see Jarid leaving after setting a plate of stew outside his door.
"Wait." He calls after her. She stops but does not turn around. Simon pauses "Your father has given you permission to speak to me."
"Days ago." She says.
"But he never took it back or you wouldn't have told me that."
"You play games with me." She says "It is not…what is your word? Chiverous?"
"Chivalrous. I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry about what happened."
She pauses then turns on him with anger in her voice. "You are sorry? Does your sorrow back my friends of childhood who now are dead?"
"No, it doesn't."
"And you follow a God who wishes this slaughter?"
"I'm not here for God."
"Then why are you here."
"I had a duty to my lord. He is a kind man who helped me and my family."
"Yet this kind man serves your king does not he?"
"Yes."
"And you king ordered this…this…" she breaks into here native tongue.
"There must have been a reason."
"Oh there was! Because we could not pay the ransom. Because we could not bring the True Cross we DO NOT HAVE!"
"But you must…"
"We do not care about your piece of wood. Why would we keep it?"
"I'm sure Richard would have listened to the truth."
"Really? Then why, when we paid the first sum, did he not release those he had promised?"
"I…I don't know."
"You say your king is chosen by your God?"
"I…they say that."
"So one way or another you serve your God. And this is what your God wants." She races away to hide in her own hut. Simon stands unable to answer. Finally he falls to his knees.
"God." He prays "I have
never known what you wanted of me. I beg you, tell me now." He waits, on
his knees as night falls.
Dawn is breaking as Affin knocks on
Simon's door then rapidly bursts in. There are Crusaders coming, probably to
quell the locals after they killed the people of
We see the band of crusaders a distance away. Andrew is leading Timothy, Angus and a two other quite young infantry men. As they approach Affin's hut he greets them pretending his English is far worse than it is. Affin tries to convince them he is alone, he explains how his sons were killed in the war. Andrew is not impressed and Angus punches Affin stomach trying to get him to admit more. Meanwhile Timothy enters Simon's hut to search it. Simon, hidden from view, strikes Timothy in the back of the head sending him sprawling to the ground. He leans over the unconscious Timothy and whispers into his ear "This is not a nightmare. What we do here, what happens here, is very real."
Meanwhile the two young soldiers have found Jarid and are leading her out.
"Ah," says Angus "ye've been holdin out on us. Was that because ye didn't want to see us do this?" he ask pointedly as he rips the veil off Jarid. "Or maybe this?" as he rips off more clothing. Affin tries to climb to his feet pleading with them to leave his daughter alone.
"Hold!" comes Simon's voice. He has stepped out of the hut. He is in full armour and his sword is drawn. In the desert sun he glows like an angel.
Angus is shocked "Ye're dead!"
"No." says Simon "I am not. These people have protected me and I am bound to protect them. As my fellows you must respect that."
"I am no knight." says Andrew "I am a soldier. And a soldier follows orders chivalry be damned. Now I order you to step aside."
"I will not. I serve God."
"You serve our king."
"I serve God."
"The king rules by divine right."
"The king is a man."
"I'll give you one last chance Simon. Stand aside."
"The lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…"
"Angus." Says Andrew. "Kill him."
"With pleasure." Says Angus drawing his sword and moving forward. Roth moves to block and the two begin to spar. Angus is moving slowly, testing Simon. Simon is determined but his side is still bandaged under the armour and he is slightly handicapped. As Simon blocks a blow Angus tries to use his superior weight to overbear Simon.
"Do ye know why I'm going to beat ye boy? Cause I don't care about God, or kings or countries or causes. I kill people cause I like killing people. Makes things nice and clear. I don't need Jesus to split you head." Angus swings his free arm forward and punches Simon in his wounded side. Simon doubles backward to the ground with a cry of anguish.
In slow motion Angus draws back to finish Simon with his sword. Through a haze Simon looks at his sword which suddenly seems to blur and is replaced with an image of the crucifix bathed in golden light.
At the last moment Simon whirls his arm upward and Angus impales himself on his sword. As Angus stares at the blade passing through his chest blood trickles out of his mouth.
Simon stands pulling his blade out and letting Angus slump to his knees. "Maybe you did need Jesus after all." He stands and looks at the other 3 soldiers. "What now?"
Andrew considers. "Very well then." Andrew says "I'm not risking myself for you. As far as I'm concerned you're dead and you can stay here and rot among the infidels. Just tell me what happened to Timothy."
"He's alive. I just hit him in the head."
"Show me where." Sighs Andrew as he approaches.
Simon turns and points "Over the…" his voice is lost as Andrew stabs him through the back. Simon collapses in pain and horror. "I told you," Andrew says "what I'd do if you disobeyed me."
"Andrew." Simon says weakly.
"Last words?"
"Wars will never be fought with machines as long as the…" he coughs up blood "goal is to kill the enemy." And with that falls to the ground dead.
Jarid cries out in anguish and Affin, barely on his feet holds her trying to console her.
Andrew looks down at the dead bodies of Simon and Angus. He turns to the other soldiers "Go get Timothy."
"Will you kill us too now?" Affin asks him.
"Your English has improved old man."
The soldiers return helping Timothy to walk with them.
"We're leaving." Says Andrew.
"But…"begins one of the soldiers.
"No questions. Our objective was to quell the locals. These two are quelled. Stay out of way, both of you, and you'll stay alive. Now let's go." They march away leading Timothy.
Jarid leans over Simon's body. "He was a good man, wasn't he father?"
"He was. Let us cast the other to the scavengers."
"And him."
"We will do what we can."
As evening falls we see Affin and Jarid filling a grave. Affin then begins to carve a grave marker. In time lapse as he works the camera pans outward to reveal 4 other graves in a line beside the one they are filling. As Affin finished inscribing the grave marker we can see it read:
Simon
True Christian
They stand over it watching for a moment before returning to their home.
The End