By: Anton Massopust III

“I demand a duel to the death!” – Knight Jean de Carrouges

Director Ridley Scott brings us a story during the Middle Ages in France based on true events from three different points of view. One view is from a noble Knight, Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) who has fought many wars for the King of France, Charles VI (Alex Lawther). And while he’s away in another war in Scotland, his wife, Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer) is brutally raped by Squire Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) and eventually petitions her case all the way to the King Charles VI. The king orders the two to compete in a brutal joust to the death in order to prove Jean’s wife’s innocence and his own honor. If Jean loses to Jacques, he is killed in the joust, and she is burnt at the stake. 

The second point of view is from Jacques. He is a very powerful squire who obtains land and anything else for favors from the Kings, Barons. He forces the landowners to pay heavy tax to the King and to the Knights for the wars they have fought. He also takes advantage of the Marguerite while Jean is away in battle. He rapes Marguerite and then goes to confession and tells the priest. He is compelled to fight this last duel to the death with Jean for his honor and to prove he is not a rapist.

The third point of view is the lady in question, Marguerite. As it says on the text in the film: This is the truth.” She could not tell the actual truth because women’s roles in those days were next to nothing. Even though she spoke the truth, and her husband believes her, he is a man of honor, but is a very hard man. She is practically given away by her father when he sold his land. Jean is cheated out of that land by Jacques. Marguerite also had a hard time conceiving. She eventually has a son, and she is terrified that the son will be an orphan since they both will die. 

I won’t tell you who wins the duel. I will let you find that out for yourself. If you are a big fan of Game of Thrones, you’ll love this film which was based on actual events. Director Ridley Scott really knows how to tell a great story. Add in the style, the costumes and medieval weaponry are perfect and the way the story is told in three different points of view is very clever, especially since the last part is the absolute truth. The movie is exciting to the very end. If you’re a huge movie fan, you’ll love “The Last Duel”. It is well acted and well directed. In these three different points of view, you see three different acting styles in each of the main characters. It’s definitely worth renting, especially if you enjoy movies about knights and adventure.