The Last Duel (2021) is a historical drama directed by Ridley Scott, featuring a stellar cast including Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, and Ben Affleck. The film is based on Eric Jager’s book The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France, and it explores themes of justice, power, and honor through a gripping medieval narrative.

Plot Summary

Set in 14th-century France, The Last Duel tells the true story of the last legally sanctioned trial by combat in French history. The story revolves around three central characters:

• Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon): A respected knight known for his loyalty and battlefield prowess.
• Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver): A charismatic squire favored by the nobility for his intellect and charm.
• Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer): Jean’s intelligent and courageous wife, whose accusation sets the film’s events in motion.

The conflict ignites when Marguerite accuses Jacques of assaulting her while Jean is away at war. With no legal protection for women in medieval France, her claim sparks outrage and divides the community. To seek justice and restore his honor, Jean challenges Jacques to a duel to the death, with Marguerite’s fate hanging in the balance—if her husband loses, she will be burned at the stake for false accusations.

Narrative Structure

The film employs a Rashomon-style narrative, presenting the story from three different perspectives:

1. Jean de Carrouges’ Perspective: He sees himself as a heroic, wronged husband fighting for his family’s honor.
2. Jacques Le Gris’ Perspective: He believes Marguerite’s attention toward him was mutual, reflecting his twisted sense of entitlement.
3. Marguerite de Carrouges’ Perspective: The true and harrowing account of her trauma, exposing the misogyny and injustice of medieval society.

This multi-perspective approach highlights the subjectivity of truth and the societal structures that shape justice and morality.

Themes and Analysis

1. Justice and Honor:
   The film explores medieval concepts of honor and how the quest for personal justice can be driven by ego and societal pressure rather than morality.
2. Feminism and Agency:
   Marguerite’s story is a powerful examination of a woman’s struggle for truth and agency in a world dominated by patriarchal values. Her courage to speak out, despite the deadly consequences, forms the heart of the narrative.
3. Power and Corruption:
   The corrupt medieval legal system, where power and influence outweigh truth and justice, serves as a reflection of broader societal failures still relevant today.