Medieval romance movies are so captivating and enthralling. The history, battles and courage of the brave knights never fails to take our breath away—especially with a Knight’s Tale, a cinematic film based on a medieval romance era of the fourteenth century. The movie features Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein, a low-ranking knight of great honor and morale in the court of Emperor Henry V.
A Knight’s Tale takes us back in time to an age of nobility, chivalry, and glorious deeds. The story focuses on the heartfelt efforts of Sir Ulrich—with the help of his two trusted comrades, Wat and Roland—to prove himself worthy of a higher social rank. The movie is filled with action, humor, and romance, and the fact that it is based on a true story makes it even more enjoyable.
The legendary tale of a Knight’s Tale came to life in the year 2000 when it was released. Directed by Brian Helgeland andstarring the likes of Heath Ledger as Sir Ulrich, Paul Bettany as Roland, and Shannyn Sossamon as the beautiful and headstrong Lady Jocelyn, the movie was an instant hit. It grossed over $117 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest grossing medieval romance movies of the time.
A movie like this creates strong feelings and emotions, especially because it captures different aspects of the medieval time-period. Not only did it capture the spirit of the time—the honor, courage, loyalty and bravery of the knights—but it also highlighted the true emotion and passion of love. The stories of forbidden love and star-crossed lovers is impossible to resist and inspiring to watch.
A Knight’s Tale is also significant in terms of the way it shines light onto the importance of the noble cause of social justice. Ulrich’s plight shows how one can defy the odds for something bigger than himself and this is an enduring lesson for generations to come. The movie makes an inspirational statement about how, with fervor and conviction, one can effect change and uphold justice in a world filled with complexities.
The Impact of the Film
By way of its compelling story, A Knight’s Tale has had a lasting impact on audiences and the film industry, alike. It showed us the nobility and virtue of the noble-knight and fueled the fire in many movie goers to explore and appreciate medieval romance. Its success sparked the production of many knight-themed movies, television shows and video games.
As well as changing the cinematic landscape, A Knight’s Tale revived the art of ballroom dancing. The production used authentic fifteenth century court-dance moves and scenes, leading to a rebirth of the activity around the world. Schools have been opened and classes are now held on authentic ballroom dances to this day!
The film reignited a passion for the medieval era, particularly for the knight and knight-like heroes. Ledger’s performance gave viewers something to admire and root for; someone of low rank could experience a higher level of power and status. This resonated with many, inspiring them to fight for a cause in the face of adversity.
Music and Cinematic Techniques
The film captures a plethora of cinematic techniques, such as the inclusion of long shots, close-up shots, a hard-hitting soundtrack and an impressive roster of actors. Its name also derives from Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem, “The Canterbury Tales,” which is a collection of stories told by pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.
The soundtrack of A Knight’s Tale is unique with its hard-hitting rock and pop beats. Rather than relying on a more traditional score—which is typical of a knight film—the production opted for a modern twist. The soundtrack includes works of Queen, AC/DC, David Bowie, and many more. This was put together to give it a unique identity, echoing the rebellious and determined character of Sir Ulrich.
Awards and Recognition
Although much of the film was criticsed for its romanticised idea of the medieval era, Heath Ledger won a number of awards for his role as Sir Ulrich. Ledger won a Saturn Award for Best Actor and earned a nomination for MTV Movie Awards for Best Male Performance. The movie was selected for the 2000 Academy Awards nominations for Best Costume Design.
Ultimately, A Knight’s Tale has become the standard for knight-based and medieval romance movies. It shows viewers a different side of the middle ages, with its emphasis on heroic ideals, romance, and chivalry. This movie takes us back to a time when courage and nobility was respected, celebrated and contagious; reminding us all of the power of courage and making every audience member confident enough to fight for something bigger than themselves.
Legacy of Knights Tale
The movie planted a seed in many viewers’ minds—introducing them to the fantasy world of a noble knight and inspiring them to live an honorable and just life. A-list actors have been eager to take part in the trend, with Sir Orlando Bloom, Sir Jason Momoa, and Sir Liam Neeson all taking on the role of medieval knights in recent years. The remake of Robin Hood (2010) directed by Ridley Scottwas inspired by A Knight’s Tale and follows the story of a low-ranking yeoman who rises through the ranks of society and strives to defend the weak. This has echoed the same themes showcased in A Knight’s Tale.
In the year 2019, A Knight’s Tale is fondly remembered and praised. It inspired an entire genre of medieval romance and reignited the flame of an entire movement. The film inspires us to never give up on our dreams, no matter how impossible, for the determination of one person can be the catalyst for community, nation and world change.
Referencing the Knight Tale
Since its release, A Knight’s Tale has been referenced in many Hollywood movies and television shows. The musical Hair, for example, featured a musical number about knights and referred to the movie directly. The musical was released in 2002, one year after A Knight’s Tale and although it follows a completely different narrative, it was inspired by the film’s grounding in chivalry and honor.
The Office, Seinfeld, and The Simpsons have all referenced the movie in their episodes, with the latter airing a special 10-minute-long segment as part of its Treehouse of Horror XV special. This showed Homer dressing up as Sir Ulrich and leading an heroic charge in a parody version of the movie’s iconic opening scene.
A Knight’s Tale became so popular that there has been a sequel recently announced for the film, which is reported to be a prequel to the original movie set to follow Lady Jocelyn on her journey to becoming a knight. It is expected to be just as captivating as the original and it will be interesting to see the evolution of Sir Ulrich and the rest of the cast from the first movie.
Modernization of Medieval Tales
Apart from movies, A Knight’s Tale has also been referenced in modern music and literature. The music video for Beyonce’s “Till I Die” was heavily inspired by the medieval aesthetic, with the star donning a costume and taking on a knight-like role. Additionally, the novel A Game Of Thrones, written by George RR Martin, is set in a fictional kingdom with a strong medieval influence. Many scenes, characters and themes of the novel have been compared to A Knight’s Tale as they bear a striking resemblance to each other.
It is clear to any fan of the movie that A Knight’s Tale has become a modern classic. This can be seen through the increasing number of remakes and references over the past few years. It captures the true medieval romance and inspires viewers to set an example for others to follow. It is a lesson that no movie can offer yet, undeniably, a movie like A Knight’s Tale can teach us strength and courage. This means it has the power to transcend time and space, and its legacy remains with us today.
