When the warrior monk Arn (Joakim Natterqvist) falls in love with the betrothed daughter of another family, the two are separated by more than just walls. While Cecelia (Sofia Helin) is locked in a convent, Arn is banished from Sweden and sent to serve as a knights templar in the Holy Land. There he meets the most unexpected friend imaginable: the great king of the muslims Saladin (Milind Soman). Even if Arn can survive in the Holy Land, he will have to return to a country divided by feuding clans and war. Arn will have to fight more than just the muslims if he ever wants to find Cecelia again.
Another extraordinary film about the Crusades, and unexpectedly coming out of the Sweden film industry. Don't let that put you off, every second of this story is filled with excitement, tragedy, romance, action: the list goes on. Granted there are some issues with continuity: the narrative of the film is meant to cover a large period of time and there are some parts of the story where you have to work out for yourself what has happened. But that is just one small blemish on this otherwise fantastic film. Whether it is the swedish country side or the Israeli deserts, the landscape of the film is stunningly captured on film. From epic battle scenes to heartbreaking sorrow, the cinematography wonderfully captures these moments. Although the cast can not be called star packed, there are plenty of emotional and mesmerising performances all round (but then again, as I said this film is from Sweden and I'm not sure who qualifies as a star in swedish Film). There is one other point I want to mention, this film makes a big point of the differences in location, through the variety of languages you will hear and that to me a big boon for the film. Personally i always think it strange in films where people of different cultures all miraculously speak english, but that is not done here and to me that adds an extra level of depth to the story that is just not seen in a film like Kingdom of Heaven (which is set at the same time and roughly a similar story).
So if you are the sort to love beautiful on screen battles, heartwarming emotion and a story that delivers on many levels, then Arn: the Knight templar is guaranteed to deliver all this and more.
