Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar was a Castilian nobleman in Spain in the 12th century. He became allied with King Sancho II, who was assassinated in 1072. Rodrigo clashed with Sancho's brother Alfonso VI, who was suspected of complicity in Sancho's murder. He was exiled in for unauthorized military campaigns against the Moors in Granada in 1080. For the next seven years he served under Moorish lord al-Mutamin and helped to defend his lands against invasion from other Spanish and Moorish lords as well as Yusuf ibn Tashfin's African Moors. Alfonso recalled Rodrigo after suffering a crushing defeat from invading Moors but Rodrigo followed his own agenda, leading a combined Moorish and Spanish force to take Valencia, where he effectively ruled (though in Alfonso's name) a (semi) puristic Muslim/Christian community until his death in 1099, during a siege from Yusuf ibn Tashfin's forces. He later became a figure of legend and was the protagonist of the epic Spanish poem El Cantar de Mio Cid.
The film follows the legend of El Cid much more than historical fact. It get's a few basic facts right. El Cid is exiled by Alfonso after Sancho's death, though for different reasons. He does work with al-Mutamin during his exile. He is recalled by Alfonso and does take Valencia and rule it in Alfonso's name. He is also married to Dona Jimena Diaz, though most of their tense relationship is fictional and their son is not portrayed in the film. According to popular belief El Cid made Alfonso swear that he was not complicit in his brother's (Sancho) death. This is also shown in the film and is the reason for El Cid's exile. Finally, according to legend, El Cid's corpse was placed on his horse and lead his troops to victory, repelling the Moorish invaders, this is how the film ends. There are also many divergences. In the film, Rodrigo becomes the King's "champion" and defeats a knight in single combat winning the city of Calahorra for him. There is no historical or legendary basis for this. Nor is there any evidence that Alfonso came to Valencia with his troops to aid El Cid during the siege. But the biggest (and cleverest) Hollywood invention in this film is Rodrigo's stormy relationship with Jimena.
In the film Jimena's father Count Gormaz insults Rodrigo when he is accused of treason for setting Moorish prisoners, including al-Mutamin, free. When Rodrigo's father calls Gormaz a liar, Gormaz challenges him to a duel. In order to save his old father from shame Rodrigo begs Gormaz to withdraw the challenge and apologize to his father. In his pride Gormaz refuses so Rodrigo challenges Gormaz to a duel himself and ultimately kills him. With his last breath Gormaz asks Jimena to avenge him and she swears to do so. This is much more complicated than a simple revenge subplot however. Jimena stills loves Rodrigo but she also hates him for killing her father. So there is a danger that, if she continues to court Rodrigo, her love will turn into a kind of lust. Moreover, she feels that she must show the same filial devotion to her father that Rodrigo showed to his. Otherwise how can she be worthy of his love. So she spurns his love, even plotting to have him killed at one point. Despite this Rodrigo still loves her and, at the command of the king, she marries him. It is only when El Cid is banished and loses everything that she finally feels she has kept her vow to her father and can show Rodrigo love once again.
Rodrigo himself is, almost, an entirely honorable character. He always does what he feels is right no matter the personal cost. He fights Jimena's father in a duel to save his father's honor, even though it means losing her love. He forces Alfonso to swear that he was not involved in Sancho's murder which ultimately causes him to be banished. After finally being reconciled with Jimena they only enjoy a brief moment (exactly one night) of happiness before loyal lords show up, asking him to lead them. He and Jimena plead with them to leave, so they won't have to suffer banishment themselves, but he finally decides to lead them, for the honor of Spain. Through all this, despite unfair treatment and treachery on Alfonso's part, Rodrigo remains loyal to his King. Rodrigo is also shown as a compassionate hero. His first real act in the film is one of mercy, freeing his moorish prisoners despite accusations of treason. This act wins him a loyal friend in al-Mutamin, who later helps him to take Valencia. Pluralism is a bit of a theme in this movie, as El Cid is able to unite Christian and Morish Spaniards against Arab conquest.
Besides having complex characters the the film is also epic in scope, featuring scenes with 1000's of extras and massive sets (though most of it was filmed on location in Spain). The cinematography is magnificent, really giving the film a mythic quality, especially at the end, as the Cid (or his corpse actually) rides out of Valencia, the sun glistening on his armor, to lead his soldiers to victory. The stirring score, by the always reliable Miklos Rosza, also adds to this mythic quility and gives the film a real Spanish feel. It also features fairly solid, though at times over the top, performances.
For all it's strengths, El Cid is not without flaws. First of all, there is a point late in the movie where El Cid's moral integrity is put into question. When his men are poised to take Valencia he finds out that Jimena and his daughters are being captive by Alfonso, who wants to punish Rodrigo for not assisting him in his ill advised attack on Yusuf's forces. El Cid decides to delay his attack on Valencia to rescue his family, putting there needs above Spain's. This would fine. Saving your family from possibly dying in the dungeons is certainly an understandable motivation and I'm perfectly fine with giving the hero a moral quandary, even in a mythic tale of this sort. The problem I have with this is two fold. First of all Jimena, on finding out that here husband is coming to rescue her, declares that she'd rather kill herself and the children than allow him to sacrifice the good of Spain for them. While, again, her motivations are understandable, suicide and filicide are not something I'm convinced she would ever consider, especially considering her strong Catholic faith (she lives in a convent for much of the film when Rodrigo is away). Secondly the question this brings up, of devotion to one's family vs. devotion to one's country, is never really resolved. A soldier helps Jimena escape and Rodrigo is able to continue his assault on Valencia. The decision which caused so much consternation is never brought up again.
There are other problems as well. Like many epics, El Cid is unfocused at times. The rivalry between Sancho and Alfonso is not set up very well and their sister, Urraca, has an antagonistic relationship with Jimena that I never really understood. It also would have been nice to have a scene or two between Rodrigo and his father after Count Gormaz's death. Finally there is a lack of chemistry between Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren. Apparently the two did not get along very and while this may have actually helped sell their early discord, it hurts the more romantic scenes, although they aren't terrible.
El Cid is not a perfect film but its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. Its epic scope and exciting action combine with a really complex human story to make it one of the best films of its kind.
Score: 9/10
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