Arn: The Knight Templar

Love and religious duty clash in this 2007 Swedish language film. This epic is about the struggles of young Arn Magnusson of Sweden, son of the powerful Folkung dynasty. His family is one of several struggling for the crown. This movie was made multilingual for the realism of the time period. Arn, like many nobles of the time period, is raised and educated by the Cistercians, a Roman Catholic monastic order. Brother Guilbert, a former Knight Templar, teaches him the skills needed to be a knight. When Arn leaves the monastery, he is pulled into the struggle for control of the young nation.

This internationally financed and filmed movie was directed by Peter Flinth. Hans Gunnarsson adapted the Jan Guillou novels Vagen till Jerusalem and Tempelriddaren into the script. The film was produced by AMC Pictures, Arion Communications and Dagsljus Filmequipment. The film won a Goldbagge Award.

Arn, played by Joakim Natterqvist, jumps into kingdom politics feet first and helps his friend Knut Eriksson, played by Gustaf Skarsgard. This leads to a civil war between the two groups struggling for control of Sweden. Arn and his fiancée Celia, played by Sofia Helin, are found out for having sex. They are then kicked out of the Catholic Church, and to repent, they have to make amends for their transgressions. Celia is sent to a convent and Arn is sent to the Crusades as a Knight Templar.

While in the Holy Land, Arn is made commander of the Templar fort in Gaza. While pursuing Saracen thieves, Arn saves the life of Saladin, played by Milind Soman, and ends up saving the leader of the Saracen armies that are fighting the Christians. Saladin thanks Arn by warning him of the impending Saracen attack upon the city of Jerusalem. Arn will have several more battles to survive until he is able to get back to his Celia.