𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝘿𝙪𝙚𝙡 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭)

“The Last Duel” (2021) is a historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the non-fiction book The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager. The film stars Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, and Ben Affleck, with the story set in 14th-century France. It explores themes of justice, honor, and the role of women in medieval society, centering on the concept of “trial by combat” to settle a disputed accusation.

The plot is centered around the real-life events that led to the last legally sanctioned duel in France’s history. The film follows the story of Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), a respected knight who returns from war to find his wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer), has been assaulted by Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), a squire and the close ally of Carrouges’ former friend, Count Pierre d’Alençon (Ben Affleck).

Faced with the lack of justice for his wife’s assault, Carrouges challenges Le Gris to a trial by combat, a form of judicial duel that was historically used to settle legal disputes. The duel becomes a battle for honor, with the lives of Carrouges, Le Gris, and Marguerite all hanging in the balance. What makes the film particularly unique is the fact that it is told from three perspectives—Carrouges, Le Gris, and Marguerite—which offer differing views on the same events, highlighting the subjectivity of truth and the varying interpretations of justice.