A Knights Tale (PG)

The late, great Heath Ledger and his luxurious blond curls take centre stage in this wonderfully silly yet uplifting medieval romp.

William Thatcher (Ledger) is a squire to a knight found dead minutes before he’s due for a jousting tournament. It’s the 1370s, and only people of noble birth can compete – but William convinces his fellow squires, the sensible Roland (Mark Addy) and the volatile Wat (Alan Tudyk) that he should take their dead master’s place.

William wins the joust and persuades Wat and Roland to keep up the ruse. With the help of Paul Bettany’s Chaucer, William becomes the fake knight Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein, and jousts his way to the World Championships. There’s a damsel too, in the shape of Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon). But Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell) also wants Jocelyn – and he’s the knight to beat in the ring.

The film on paper is absurd. It’s a medieval sports film, filmed on cheapo sets in post-Velvet Revolution Prague to a rock soundtrack. Is it authentic? Probably not. But it is a film so full of heart it’s the only thing that’ll do when you need to watch something uncomplicatedly lovely.