Troy (2004) is an epic historical war film directed by Wolfgang Petersen, based on Homer’s Iliad. The movie depicts the legendary events of the Trojan War and the conflict between the Greek and Trojan civilizations.

Plot Summary:

The story begins with a quarrel between two kings: Agamemnon (Brian Cox) of the Greeks and Priam (Peter O’Toole) of Troy. Agamemnon desires to conquer Troy, believing that it will give him ultimate power and control over the Greek world. The catalyst for the war is the beautiful Helen (Diane Kruger), wife of Menelaus (Brendan Gleeson), the king of Sparta. She elopes with Paris (Orlando Bloom), the prince of Troy, which leads to a full-scale war between the Greeks and Trojans.

The hero of the Greek army is Achilles (Brad Pitt), a nearly invincible warrior with a deep sense of pride and a personal vendetta. He is reluctant to fight for Agamemnon due to a slight from the king, but eventually joins the war when his close friend, Patroclus (Garrett Hedlund), is killed by Hector (Eric Bana), the noble Trojan prince and warrior.

The battle between Hector and Achilles is one of the film’s pivotal moments. Achilles kills Hector in single combat and dishonors his body, further escalating the tension between the Greeks and Trojans. The film also portrays the emotional toll of war, particularly through the characters of Briseis (Rose Byrne), a Trojan woman taken as a prize by Achilles, and the strained relationship between Paris and his brother, Hector.

As the war reaches its climax, the Greeks use cunning tactics, such as the famous Trojan Horse, to infiltrate Troy and bring the city to its downfall. In the end, the Trojans are defeated, but the characters’ personal struggles and the high cost of war are explored deeply.

• Honor and Glory: Characters like Achilles and Hector are driven by the desire for personal honor and the legacy they will leave behind.
• Love and Betrayal: The romance between Paris and Helen, as well as the relationships between various warriors and their families, plays a key role in shaping the course of the war.
• Fate and Free Will: Many characters are bound by their fate, yet they also make choices that shape their destinies.
• War and its Consequences: The film portrays the brutality and senselessness of war, showing the destruction it brings to both sides.

The film ends with the fall of Troy, leaving a legacy of death and tragedy. Though the Greek side is victorious, the cost is steep, and the personal costs of war resonate deeply with the surviving characters.