Tristan & Isolde
—1. Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Kevin Reynolds)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads
If you haven’t noticed, life is full of expectations. Whoever we are and whatever we do, there are things we all feel we are supposed to do, supposed to do if we expect to be seen as any sort of functional member of society, supposed to do if we are to be a good person, supposed to do if we are to be happy. Just certain things that we are supposed to do.
But then there are also things we just do. Actions we take not because of duty, expectation, or a need to uphold some sense of honor. Decisions we make, not because we should, not because we are expected to, but because something else inside of us compels us.
As you might have guessed, Tristan & Isolde is a love story. It is a story about a British warrior who falls in love with an Irish princess. It is a story about a love than cannot be, a love that is denied by a feud between countries, and even after the countries “unite,� a love that is forbidden by commitments each has to the same leader.
Its trailers suggest that Tristan & Isolde will be a Romeo-and-Juliet story. More than just a story about an irresistible pull of romantic love, however, Tristan & Isolde steps far beyond the couple focused story of Romeo & Juliet and reveals that love is more than an undeniable attraction. It shows us that true love extends beyond romance and more often means sacrificing for others instead of simply satisfying our own desires.
From the beginning, the love that is portrayed in Tristan & Isolde is noticeably different from what we see in the standard romance. First off, although there is the obligatory magnetic realization of love/sex scene, we see love much before romance even enters the picture. Isolde and Tristan only meet because Isolde finds him near death, and, although she is almost certain he is her enemy, takes it upon herself to save him.
The second indication that the love to be portrayed in Tristan & Isolde is about more than sexual magnetism is that Isolde gives up the relationship when she knows that Tristan’s life is in danger. Her tears tell us that she does not want to let Tristan go. But in her release of him, we see that her love for him has put his life over her own happiness.
As the story goes on, Tristan and Isolde do meet again. The problem is, now Isolde is to marry the man who has raised Tristan as his son. Tristan and Isolde still love each other, and as the story continues, we witness that struggle to live up to their duties while, at the same time, living with contradictory desires. We see that the pull of romantic connection is strong. We also feel the reality of expectation and obligation that both must face. But in the end, as desire and duty come clashing together, we see how a greater love triumphs over both.
When Tristan and Isolde first reunite with the knowledge that their love again cannot be, Isolde asks Tristan: “If we lived in a place without duty, would you be with me?�
His response, “That place does not exist.�
But as the movie comes to its end, that is exactly the place I see. It is world ruled by love, not by self-seeking desire, not by guilt and expectation driven duty, but instead by care, compassion, and the willing sacrifice of oneself for the good of others. It is a world freed and uplifted by a love that clearly shows itself to be infinitely more meaningful and powerful that either duty or romance alone could ever be.
As we live our lives, it easy to think of them as choice between no more than two ways of living. On one side, our lives can be based on a checklist, a checklist of wrong, a checklist of right, and a myriad of ideas about duty and expectations that we better live up to. On the other, we can look at life as a path to fulfillment, success, happiness, and hopefully a sense of purpose and belonging.
But as Tristan & Isolde shows us, there is a third option that cannot be denied. That option: a life of love. A life where actions are not just obligations, but gifts of love. A life where connections are not just self-seeking attractions, but relationships of care and concern that desire to see the best for another person or group of people.
When I went to see Tristan & Isolde, I expected a good romance, but not a lot more. What it sent me away with, however, surprised me.
If you are in the mood for a love story, Tristan & Isolde does have you covered. How about that step-above love story that actually seems realistic? You won’t be disappointed. A story about a land divided and oppressed and a people struggling for unity and freedom? Just as powerful as the love story. A setting so beautiful that it makes you want to jump on a plane and go there? Almost every scene. And, heaven forbid, performances that actually live up to the depth of emotion and story that the movie seeks to achieve? Who knew Peter Parker’s buddy/arch-nemesis could act so well!
Far from just a romantic story that would never happen in real life, the story of Tristan & Isolde invites us into the lives of not only a couple, but an entire country seeking to live amid circumstances of hardship and division, duty and honor, and a simple desire to know that life is truly about something more.
We are all familiar with duty and expectation. We all know the feelings of desire and longing for something more. The question is, are we willing to seek that something more? Are we willing to believe that there is something deeper? Are we willing to believe in a love that changes lives for the better? Are we willing to let that love change ours?
— Overview
—2. Cast and Crew
—3. Photo Pages
—4. Trailers, Clips, DVDs, Books, Soundtrack
—5. Posters (Kevin Reynolds)
—6. Production Notes (pdf)
—7. Spiritual Connections
—8. Presentation Downloads
If you haven’t noticed, life is full of expectations. Whoever we are and whatever we do, there are things we all feel we are supposed to do, supposed to do if we expect to be seen as any sort of functional member of society, supposed to do if we are to be a good person, supposed to do if we are to be happy. Just certain things that we are supposed to do.But then there are also things we just do. Actions we take not because of duty, expectation, or a need to uphold some sense of honor. Decisions we make, not because we should, not because we are expected to, but because something else inside of us compels us.
As you might have guessed, Tristan & Isolde is a love story. It is a story about a British warrior who falls in love with an Irish princess. It is a story about a love than cannot be, a love that is denied by a feud between countries, and even after the countries “unite,� a love that is forbidden by commitments each has to the same leader.
Its trailers suggest that Tristan & Isolde will be a Romeo-and-Juliet story. More than just a story about an irresistible pull of romantic love, however, Tristan & Isolde steps far beyond the couple focused story of Romeo & Juliet and reveals that love is more than an undeniable attraction. It shows us that true love extends beyond romance and more often means sacrificing for others instead of simply satisfying our own desires.
From the beginning, the love that is portrayed in Tristan & Isolde is noticeably different from what we see in the standard romance. First off, although there is the obligatory magnetic realization of love/sex scene, we see love much before romance even enters the picture. Isolde and Tristan only meet because Isolde finds him near death, and, although she is almost certain he is her enemy, takes it upon herself to save him.
The second indication that the love to be portrayed in Tristan & Isolde is about more than sexual magnetism is that Isolde gives up the relationship when she knows that Tristan’s life is in danger. Her tears tell us that she does not want to let Tristan go. But in her release of him, we see that her love for him has put his life over her own happiness.
As the story goes on, Tristan and Isolde do meet again. The problem is, now Isolde is to marry the man who has raised Tristan as his son. Tristan and Isolde still love each other, and as the story continues, we witness that struggle to live up to their duties while, at the same time, living with contradictory desires. We see that the pull of romantic connection is strong. We also feel the reality of expectation and obligation that both must face. But in the end, as desire and duty come clashing together, we see how a greater love triumphs over both.
When Tristan and Isolde first reunite with the knowledge that their love again cannot be, Isolde asks Tristan: “If we lived in a place without duty, would you be with me?�
His response, “That place does not exist.�
But as the movie comes to its end, that is exactly the place I see. It is world ruled by love, not by self-seeking desire, not by guilt and expectation driven duty, but instead by care, compassion, and the willing sacrifice of oneself for the good of others. It is a world freed and uplifted by a love that clearly shows itself to be infinitely more meaningful and powerful that either duty or romance alone could ever be.
As we live our lives, it easy to think of them as choice between no more than two ways of living. On one side, our lives can be based on a checklist, a checklist of wrong, a checklist of right, and a myriad of ideas about duty and expectations that we better live up to. On the other, we can look at life as a path to fulfillment, success, happiness, and hopefully a sense of purpose and belonging.
But as Tristan & Isolde shows us, there is a third option that cannot be denied. That option: a life of love. A life where actions are not just obligations, but gifts of love. A life where connections are not just self-seeking attractions, but relationships of care and concern that desire to see the best for another person or group of people.
When I went to see Tristan & Isolde, I expected a good romance, but not a lot more. What it sent me away with, however, surprised me.
If you are in the mood for a love story, Tristan & Isolde does have you covered. How about that step-above love story that actually seems realistic? You won’t be disappointed. A story about a land divided and oppressed and a people struggling for unity and freedom? Just as powerful as the love story. A setting so beautiful that it makes you want to jump on a plane and go there? Almost every scene. And, heaven forbid, performances that actually live up to the depth of emotion and story that the movie seeks to achieve? Who knew Peter Parker’s buddy/arch-nemesis could act so well!
Far from just a romantic story that would never happen in real life, the story of Tristan & Isolde invites us into the lives of not only a couple, but an entire country seeking to live amid circumstances of hardship and division, duty and honor, and a simple desire to know that life is truly about something more.
We are all familiar with duty and expectation. We all know the feelings of desire and longing for something more. The question is, are we willing to seek that something more? Are we willing to believe that there is something deeper? Are we willing to believe in a love that changes lives for the better? Are we willing to let that love change ours?
— Overview
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