The Eagle (2011 film)

The Eagle is a 2011 epic historical drama film set in Roman Britain directed by Kevin Macdonald, and starring Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell and Donald Sutherland. Adapted by Jeremy Brock from Rosemary Sutcliffs historical adventure novel The Eagle of the Ninth 1954, the film tells the story of a young Roman officer searching to recover the lost Roman eagle standard of his fathers legion in the northern part of Great Britain. The story is based on the Ninth Spanish Legions supposed disappearance in Britain.

In the year AD 140, twenty years after the Ninth Legion disappeared in the north of Britain, Marcus Flavius Aquila, a young Roman centurion, arrives in Britain to serve at his first post as a garrison commander. Marcuss father disappeared with the eagle standard of the illfated legion, and Marcus hopes to redeem his familys honour by bravely serving in Britain. Shortly afterwards, only Marcuss alertness and decisiveness save the garrison from being overrun by Celtic tribesmen. He is decorated for his bravery but honourably discharged due to a severe leg injury.Living at his uncles estate near Calleva modern Silchester in southern Britain, Marcus has to cope with his military career having been cut short and his fathers name still being held in disrepute. Hearing rumours that the eagle standard has been seen in the north of Britain, Aquila decides to recover it. Despite the warnings of his uncle and his fellow Romans, who believe that no Roman can survive north of Hadrians Wall, he travels north into the territory of the Picts, accompanied only by his slave, Esca. The son of a deceased chieftain of the Brigantes, Esca detests Rome and what it stands for, but considers himself bound to Marcus, who saved his life during an amphitheatre show. ........

Source: Wikipedia