Synopsis:

Tristan, son of King Rivalen was born in tragic circumstances. His father was deposed and killed and his mother died giving birth to him. He lives at the court of his uncle, King Mark of Cornwall. The courtiers hate him and they accuse him of trying to gain the throne by preventing his uncle from marrying. Tristan offers to find the only woman the king will accept as a wife, a golden-haired maiden from across the sea. The maiden is Isolde, daughter of the King of Ireland, to whom Tristan has given music lessons. Tristan returns to Ireland and asks Isolde’s hand in marriage for King Mark. Meanwhile she discovers that Tristan has killed her brother, but because her father has given his word she leaves with him for Cornwall. During the voyage Isolde asks her handmaiden Brangania for the deadly poison the queen has given her to kill Tristan and herself. But by mistake her handmaiden gives Isolde the love potion she was to drink with King Mark on their wedding day. After drinking the magic potion Tristan and Isolde immediately become lovers.
When they arrive in Cornwall the royal marriage is celebrated, but Tristan’s enemies tell King Mark about the lovers. They are condemned to death, but manage to escape to the forest where King Mark finds them sleeping chastely and spares them. Tristan goes to Brittany where he tries to forget Isolde and marries Isolde of the White Hands. But all is in vain, and driven by his blind love returns to Cornwall only to find that Isolde appears to be happy with King Mark. Devastated Tristan returns to Brittany where he wreaks havoc until he is saved by Kaherdin, who mortally wounds him in a duel. Isolde arrives from Cornwall but the other Isolde of the White Hands leads Tristan to believe she has deserted him and he takes his own life. When Isolde reaches Tristan’s bedside it is too late and she kills herself with his sword.