Factual error: In the scene where Tristan is making his return from Ireland and the crowd is gathering around him there are two hens in the foreground. One is a Rhode Island Red and the other is a Black Plymouth Rock. Both of these are American breeds of chicken and did not appear until many hundreds of years after this film is set.
Tristan & Isolde (2006)
Plot summary
Directed by: Kevin Reynolds
Starring: James Franco, Rufus Sewell, Sophia Myles, David O'Hara
Tristan is the orphaned son of a Middle Ages Briton warrior; Isolde is a motherless princess of enemy Ireland. Tristan is raised by his late father's dear friend and is mistakenly "buried at sea" following a battle. Isolde and her maid find him washed up on the Irish beach, and secretly nurse him back to health. Isolde does not tell Tristan her real name-she tells him her name is Bronya and that she is a lady in waiting at the Irish court. They fall deeply in love and are separated once Tristan recovers. In an attempt to reconcile the warrior factions of Ireland and Britain, the King of Ireland, Isolde's father, offers his daughter to the champion of a 'who's the best' contest. Tristan "wins" Isolde on behalf of Marke, the man who raised him-but doesn't know that Isolde was his true love until she lifts her veil at the contest. Tristan and Isolde conduct a clandestine affair behind Marke's back. Their deception is uncovered by one of Marke's underlings, who's really in cahoots with the King of Ireland. Though he could have had them both killed, Marke, who loves them both dearly, sets both Isolde and Tristan free, on the eve of an attack by the Irish. Tristan sends Isolde and her maid away and runs back to join the fight. Of course, Isolde gets back to shore to find him. Tristan is mortally wounded in battle, the Irish are subdued and Tristan dies in Isolde's arms. The movie concludes with a note that Marke became the new 'king' and Isolde disappeared after burying Tristan, her true love.
Kimby
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Question: Does anyone know if makeup/cosmetics or other beauty practices, such as women plucking eyebrows and facial hair, existed during this time period? I know that this is just a movie and the actresses are supposed to look attractive, but I'm curious if it would have really been around back then.
Answer: The historical sources from the time in question are scant - it's not called "the dark age" for nothing. Having said that, beauty practices like plucking eyebrows and make-up have existed since ancient times. We can safely assume that there were certain ideals of beauty, and ladies of all times strove to meet them. These ideals have changed frequently over the times, so plucked eyebrows may or may not have been the fashion in early medieaval Britain.
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Answer: For Dark Age beauty hints look at the website of historical novelist Octavia Randolph, on https://octavia.net/ Your question is brilliantly answered in the section https://octavia.net/early-cosmetics/ The Pre-Christian Anglo-Saxons and Vikings were buried with grave goods, items they used in everyday life. Archaeologists often uncover burials of men and women who were buried with elaborately carved combs for hair care, tweezers for plucking out surplus hair, ear scoops and small wash basins. There is good evidence that people processed herbs and flowers as cosmetics and make-up.
Rob Halliday