Early Tom Holland
A strong pre-Marvel turn as a novice monk thrust into violence.
Pilgrimage is a 2017 Irish medieval adventure set in 1209, when a group of monks must escort a sacred relic across hostile country to Rome. Tom Holland plays the novice Brother Diarmuid, Richard Armitage is the brutal warrior Raymond, and Jon Bernthal appears as a silent protector in this gritty, grey-toned historical thriller.
At a Glance
CountryIreland
LanguageEnglish
DirectorBrendan Muldowney
Release2017
Why Pilgrimage is one of the best Irish medieval films
Gritty, small-scale, and violent — a relic quest that treats medieval Ireland as genuinely dangerous.
Pilgrimage premiered at Tribeca and earned strong notices for doing more with less. Brendan Muldowney strips away fantasy glamour and presents medieval Ireland in greys and mud — a landscape where faith offers no protection from steel.
Tom Holland gives Diarmuid an earnest vulnerability that contrasts sharply with Richard Armitage's cold brutality and Jon Bernthal's physical intensity. The action is brief but brutal, and the film's 96-minute runtime keeps the story focused on survival rather than spectacle.
Alongside Black Death, Ironclad, and Arn, Pilgrimage completes a quartet of serious-minded medieval adventures from the 2010s — the kind of film that treats history as horror as much as heroism.
Tom Holland in a monk's habit, Richard Armitage in armour, and a relic everyone is willing to kill for.
Gritty Irish setting
Medieval Ireland rendered in mud, rain, and grey skies — no Hollywood polish.
Relic-quest structure
Simple premise, escalating danger — effective and focused.
Strong villain turn
Richard Armitage makes Raymond a credible, chilling threat.
Story
A relic, a road, and a country at war with itself
01
Monks leave the coast
Tom Holland's Diarmuid joins a small party escorting a holy relic toward Rome — his first journey into a violent world.
02
Normans on the road
Richard Armitage plays Raymond, a merciless knight whose pursuit turns the pilgrimage into a fight for survival.
03
Jon Bernthal's silent guardian
A mute warrior with a hidden past becomes the monks' most dangerous defender.
Cast
Main characters and performers
Behind the Scenes
Premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2017.
Tom Holland stars years before Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Filmed in Ireland with a deliberately desaturated visual style.
Richard Armitage and Jon Bernthal play key antagonist and protector roles.
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FAQ
What is Pilgrimage about?
Irish monks in 1209 escort a sacred relic across hostile territory toward Rome, pursued by violent knights.
Who stars in Pilgrimage?
Tom Holland, Richard Armitage, Jon Bernthal, and John Lynch.
When is Pilgrimage set?
In medieval Ireland, 1209.
How long is Pilgrimage?
Approximately 96 minutes.
Where can I watch Pilgrimage?
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