A kingdom of conscience

August 2017

Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 movie directed and produced by Ridley Scott. It takes place during a 12^th century Crusade, with Jerusalem occupied by Christians and Muslims led by sultan Salahuddin claiming it back. The main character, played by Orlando Bloom, is a French village blacksmith seeking redemption for the soul of his wife who killed herself. He thus follows his father, a great knight, to the Holy Land, “kingdom of conscience”, where anything can be achieved.

Kid, I used to love it, as it is an epic historical and adventure film, and also because I identified more easily with the blacksmith, Balian, than with most movie heroes. He is no strong and brave warrior, simply a man with skills and weaknesses, and more importantly, principles. Looking back on it, principles are all what this film is about.

First, it depicts the Crusades with great open-mindedness, thus criticism. Fortunately, one would say. It portraits men of power driven into madness by greed, and taking thousands with them into the horror of war. That part I find really interesting: war appears as nothing more than a stupid game, that smart rulers always try to avoid. Under the governance of Baldwin IV and Salahuddin, all beliefs are welcomed and respected.

“There’ll be a day when you will wish you 

had done a little evil to do a greater good”

It also raises a philosophical question: the one of utilitarianism. Should we engage in acts for the maximum good of the maximum of people, no matter the means? This is a type of consequentialism, the theory according to which an issue is morally judged upon its outcome. That is the way most people think. At some point Balian is given a utilitarian choice. The princess Sibylla, who holds power, is married to the main antagonist, Guy de Lusignan, an anti-Muslim wishing for war. To avoid this, Balian should agree to Guy’s assassination. He does not, even though he is well aware of the man’s monstrous intentions, and that they hate each other. When asked why, he has this beautiful answer: “it is a kingdom of conscience, or nothing”. He believes that whatever good may be a situation, it is worth nothing if based on an evil act. So do I. We will not build a better world if we accept to build it with blood. If we accept to surrender our principles.

“God will understand, my lord. 

And if he doesn’t, then he is not 

God, and we need not worry.”

The question of religion and belief is central to the movie, and even though men of God are mostly depicted as fanatics or vicious persons, some rightful characters are also driven by their faith. I don’t see this as an atheistic movie. It respects and values different beliefs, but has a lot to say about religions. “You’ve taught me a lot about religion, Your Eminence” says Balian to a hypocritical priest. Religion is used to move armies, it is what gives meaning to all of it. It is the reason why people unite. And when religion fails, something else is required, a sense of honour, being a knight, for instance. Jerusalem is a pile of rocks, Balian understands it and fights for the people living inside the city. But Jerusalem is also a symbol. It is the last human desire, the last step of Maslow’s pyramid of needs: transcendence. Because, as Balian says, the kingdom of conscience is in our mind and heart, and that can never be surrendered.

What is Jerusalem worth?

Nothing. Everything.