Drama,History
United Kingdom,United States of America
The Last Duel is a historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and released in 2021. The story takes place in 14th century France and centers around the true events of a duel between two men, Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris.
The film begins with the marriage of Jean de Carrouges (played by Matt Damon) and his wife Marguerite (played by Jodie Comer). Meanwhile, Jean's longtime friend and squire, Jacques Le Gris (played by Adam Driver), returns from war and joins the household. Soon after, Marguerite accuses Le Gris of raping her, leading to a trial by combat to settle the matter.
King Charles VI (played by Alex Lawther) orders the duel, but at the time, a woman's word was not legally admissible. This causes Marguerite to take matters into her own hands and directly appeal to the king to ensure justice is served.
The Last Duel is unique in its structure, telling the same story from three different perspectives: Jean's, Le Gris', and Marguerite's. Each section of the film shows different interpretations of events and brings new information to light, revealing the complex motivations and emotions of each character.
In the end, the duel takes place and Jean emerges victorious. However, the film ends with a message reminding viewers that this story is not just a historical event, but a reflection of ongoing issues of power, gender, and justice in our modern world.
