The Last Duel (2021)

Set in 14th century France, the wife (Jodie Comer) of a knight (Matt Damon) accuses his friend (Adam Driver) of rape. In order to prove his wife's claim, the knight and his former friend must fight to the death with the victor believed to be determined by God. Based on the non fiction book THE LAST DUEL: A TRUE STORY OF CRIME, SCANDAL AND TRIAL BY COMBAT IN MEDIEVAL FRANCE by Eric Jager and directed by Ridley Scott (ALIEN). This is a provocative and fascinating look at the precarious position of women in an unenlightened patriarchal society where wives were merely the chattel of their husbands and fathers. As the rape victim, the woman cannot ask for justice, it is the husband who must ask for justice as if the crime were perpetrated against him since the wife is his "property". The film gives us a RASHOMON like view as we see the story from the point of the husband, the rapist and finally the wife. The screenplay is by Nicole Holofcener (FRIENDS WITH MONEY), Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The screenplay is just fine but alas, instead of just writing the screenplay, Damon and Affleck have major roles in the film and I found that problematic. While Driver and Comer are excellent, Affleck as Driver's devious ally gives an egregiously anachronistic performance and Damon is about as believable as a 14th century French knight as John Wayne's Genghis Khan in THE CONQUEROR. If you can force yourself to overcome that, you'll be rewarded with a fascinating piece of French history. Sadly, the film was a huge flop at the box office! With Harriet Walter, Alex Lawther, Marton Csokas, Zelijko Ivanek, Nathaniel Parker and Tallulah Haddon.