A kingdom of conscience
August 2017
August 2017
Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 movie directed and
produced by Ridley Scott. It takes place during a 12th 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.
What is Jerusalem
worth?
Nothing. Everything.
