TRISTAN & ISOLDE at HOLLYWOOD TEEN MOVIES

Tristan & Isolde's story of star-crossed lovers immediately suggests Romeo & Juliet but perhaps even more than that, it is evocative of the Arthurian legend of Camelot.

It is the 7th century, and the Roman Empire has fallen. A fragmented Britain is divided into eight tribes whose unwillingness to unite weakens their defence against a unified Ireland. Aware of this, the Irish king, Donnchadh (David Patrick O’Hara) regularly sends his forces to England to quell any signs of rebellion and unification.

The most likely man to be king of a unified Britain is Lord Marke (Rufus Sewell), whose best warrior is Tristan (James Franco) - adopted by Marke when Tristan’s parents were killed during one of the Irish assaults. After yet another of these raids, Tristan leads the men in a retaliatory attack during which he is presumably killed. His funeral pyre is sent out to sea and later washes up on the Irish shore where he is discovered by King Donnchadh’s daughter, Isolde (Sophia Myles) and her maid, Bragnae (Bronagh Gallagher). Tristan is still alive and Isolde nurses him back to health. The two become lovers, but Isolde does not reveal her true identity to Tristan whom she helps to escape when her father becomes aware of his presence in the country. Tristan returns to England and is reunited with Lord Marke who welcomes him “back from the dead”.

Still determined to maintain instability in England, Donnchadh offers Isolde as a bride in a tournament in which the best fighters from the various English tribes will compete. Tristan wins the competition but - unaware that he has been fighting for the woman he loves - he has entered it in order to win Isolde for Lord Marke.

Marke and Isolde marry, and Tristan desperately tries not to betray the beloved man who treats him like a son. Inevitably, however, he and Isolde become lovers again. Their illicit passion makes them pawns in Donnchadh’s own schemes to destroy Britain, aided by the treachery and ambition of the ruler of one of the English tribes. The discovery of Tristan and Isolde’s secret affair has monumental consequences that could forever destroy Lord Marke’s hopes for a unified England.

Played out in spectacular settings, Tristan & Isolde - a legend that has even inspired a Wagnerian opera - tells of love, war, passion, betrayal and ultimately, tragedy - all the elements of classic storytelling.

Tristan & Isolde (Widescreen Version) [DVD](2006) DVD
One of folklore and literature's most enduring romances comes to the screen in this lush costume drama set in a war-torn medieval Britain. Heroic English warrior Tristan (James Franco) and beautiful Irish princess Isolde (Sophia Myles) meet when she saves his life and fall in love, but when she is pledged to another in marriage, they must deny their hearts to bring peace to their countries. Rufus Sewell, David O'Hara also star. 125 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, French Dolby Digital Surround, Spanish Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English, Spanish; audio commentary; "making of" featurette; music video; photo gallery.