Flesh+Blood

A band of medieval mercenaries take revenge on a noble lord who decides not to pay them by kidnapping the betrothed of the noble’s son…

• Director: Paul Verhoeven
• Genre:Action / Adventure / Drama / History / War
• Runtime:128 minutes

Cast

Rutger Hauer : Martin
Jennifer Jason Leigh : Agnes
Tom Burlinson : Steven
Jack Thompson : Hawkwood
Fernando Hilbeck: Arnolfini

The film begins in 1501, where an unnamed city in Renaissance Italy has been taken by a coup d’etat while its rightful ruler, Arnolfini (Fernando Hilbeck), is away. With few loyal troops of his own, Arnolfini has hired mercenaries and motivated them by granting 24 hours of uncontrolled looting if they succeed in taking the city. The motivation works — the city is captured, the defenders are slaughtered, and chaos reigns.

Arnolfini, fearing there will be nothing left of his city for him to rule, turns to Hawkwood (Jack Thompson), the commander of his troops, to stop the mercenary’s rampant pillaging. Hawkwood is indifferent to Arnolfini’s demands, for he had accidentally attacked a young nun during the siege, and now fears this will doom him to eternal damnation. Arnolfini promises to get medical attention for her if Hawkwood will rein in his men. Hawkwood reluctantly agrees, even turning on Martin (Rutger Hauer), his friend and second-in-command. Arnolfini’s cavalry, who are personally loyal to him, round up the foot-soldiers and summarily eject the mercenaries without food, weapons, or shelter. They disperse throughout the Italian countryside, bitter and angry.

Soon thereafter, Martin’s son is stillborn to one of the camp followers in the pouring rain. Martin buries the infant, but in doing so unearths a wooden statue of Saint Martin of Tours – a saint with a sword. The mercenaries’ cardinal takes this as a sign from God that they should all follow Martin as their new leader. Desperate, Martin and his small band soon head out to seek revenge and better fortunes.

Meanwhile, Arnolfini’s son, Steven (Tom Burlinson), is betrothed to Agnes (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a young heiress he has never met. Steven is an intellectual who prefers to work on his inventions than worry about romance or politics and he has misgivings about the arranged marriage. Agnes wins him over once they finally meet, but while taking Agnes back with them, Arnolfini’s entourage is attacked and robbed by Martin’s band who have taken to brigandage. Arnolfini is seriously injured, and Agnes hides so the mercenaries will not find her. She is hauled away, hidden among her valuable dowry. Read more

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