The Last Duel (2021)

Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel is a gripping, meticulously crafted historical drama based on real events from 14th-century France. With a stellar cast and a unique narrative structure, the film presents a haunting tale of honor, justice, and the deeply ingrained misogyny of its time. It stands out not just as a period drama, but as a layered examination of truth and perception.

Detailed Summary

Introduction: Feudal France and the Duel That Made History

The film opens by setting the stage in medieval France during the Hundred Years’ War. We meet Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon), a battle-hardened knight, and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), his once-friend turned rival. Their relationship becomes increasingly strained due to political favoritism and personal tensions, culminating in a horrifying accusation by Carrouges’s wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer): that Le Gris raped her while her husband was away.

The story is told in three chapters, each labeled “The Truth According to…” the central characters, gradually peeling back layers of bias and self-justification.

Chapter One: The Truth According to Jean de Carrouges

In his version, Jean is portrayed as a noble and courageous man, loyal to his king and devoted to his wife. He sees himself as a victim of betrayal—by his former friend Le Gris, who is favored by the powerful Count Pierre (Ben Affleck), and by the system that ignores his service and merit. Jean views the rape accusation as not just an act against his wife, but as a direct attack on his honor.

Chapter Two: The Truth According to Jacques Le Gris

Le Gris’s account is drastically different. He sees himself as charismatic, intellectual, and loved by women. His version of the incident frames it as a consensual affair, misread by Marguerite. Le Gris’s arrogance and inability to comprehend consent are glaring. He’s blind to the possibility that his actions were not received the way he interpreted them. This chapter also gives insight into the toxic power structures and casual misogyny of the elite.

Chapter Three: The Truth According to Marguerite de Carrouges

Marguerite’s version is the most harrowing—and the one the film presents as objective truth (notably, the words “the truth” linger onscreen longer in her chapter). Here, we witness her isolation, the controlling and dismissive behavior of her husband, and the brutality of the rape committed by Le Gris. Her courage in coming forward is evident, especially considering the high personal cost in a society where women had no legal standing and rape was seen as a crime against a man’s property (his wife), not against the woman herself.

Movie Ending

The film culminates in the last officially recognized judicial duel in France, ordered by King Charles VI. Jean de Carrouges challenges Jacques Le Gris to trial by combat—a brutal, public fight to the death. The outcome, by law, is seen as God’s judgment.

The duel is raw, violent, and incredibly tense. Ridley Scott doesn’t glamorize it; every blow is brutal and personal. At one point, Le Gris nearly kills Carrouges, but Jean ultimately overpowers him and forces a confession of guilt—or rather, wins the fight, which legally confirms Marguerite’s claim as “true.” Le Gris is killed, stabbed through the mouth with a dagger.

After the duel, Marguerite is spared the horrific fate that awaited her if her husband had lost: being burned alive for perjury. Despite the “justice” served, Marguerite is not celebrated. She remains a woman burdened by trauma and still largely dismissed by society.

The film ends with Marguerite walking alone with her child through a garden—symbolizing both a small freedom and her continued solitude. Jean, now celebrated as a hero, soon dies in battle. Marguerite lives on independently, raising their son on her own terms.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Last Duel does not have any post-credits scenes. Once the credits roll, the story is over—no teasers, no epilogues, no additional content.

Type of Movie

Historical drama, legal thriller, and psychological study wrapped in a Rashomon-style narrative structure. It blends medieval grit with modern commentary on gender, truth, and institutional injustice.

Cast

• Jodie Comer as Marguerite de Carrouges
• Matt Damon as Jean de Carrouges
• Adam Driver as Jacques Le Gris
• Ben Affleck as Count Pierre d’Alençon
• Harriet Walter as Nicole de Buchard (Marguerite’s mother-in-law)

Film Music and Composer

The atmospheric and ominous score is composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, blending medieval instrumentation with modern cinematic tones to heighten the film’s tension and emotional depth.

Filming Locations

The Last Duel was filmed in France and Ireland, including locations such as:

• Dublin, County Meath, and County Tipperary: These provided authentic medieval architecture and landscapes perfect for 14th-century France.
• Berzé-le-Châtel in Burgundy, France: Used for castle exteriors.
• Cahir Castle (Ireland): Featured prominently in scenes of noble life and courtly drama.

These locations weren’t just backdrops—they lent credibility and immersion to the film’s tone, making the story’s feudal setting feel tangible and oppressive.

Awards and Nominations

While critically acclaimed, the film was largely snubbed at major awards shows, which sparked criticism. However, it did receive the following recognition:

• National Board of Review: Top Ten Films of the Year
• British Independent Film Awards: Best Supporting Actor nomination (Ben Affleck)

Jodie Comer’s performance in particular was widely praised, though she was overlooked by the Oscars and Golden Globes.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Ridley Scott shot the film during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with strict protocols in place.
• The script was co-written by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Nicole Holofcener, with Holofcener specifically writing Marguerite’s chapter to ensure authenticity and sensitivity.
• Damon and Affleck hadn’t written a script together since Good Will Hunting.
• The duel scene was rehearsed like a dance—choreographed blow for blow.
• Comer spent months researching medieval life and court testimony records from the period.

Inspirations and References

• Based on the book: The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager.
• The book is a non-fiction historical account, and the film closely follows the real events, though dramatized for effect.
• The duel between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris actually took place in 1386.
• References to Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa are clear, particularly in the film’s multiple perspectives format.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No alternate endings have been released publicly. Some courtroom scenes and extended versions of Marguerite’s home life were trimmed to improve pacing. Ridley Scott aimed to keep the runtime under 2.5 hours while maintaining narrative clarity.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The movie stays fairly true to Eric Jager’s source material, though:

• The book dives deeper into the political and religious implications of the duel.
• The film focuses more on personal dynamics and Marguerite’s perspective, making her the emotional center.
• The film dramatizes the final duel with more intensity than historical records suggest, but the outcome remains the same.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The three perspectives of the rape—each shown with subtle but significant differences.
• The interrogation of Marguerite before the court, where she is treated as a liar and a threat to the social order.
• The duel itself, with stunning choreography and visceral tension.
• Marguerite revealing she is pregnant—raising the stakes of the duel even further.

Iconic Quotes

• Marguerite: “I spoke the truth. That is not a crime.”
• Jean de Carrouges: “My pride does not matter. Her suffering does.”
• Jacques Le Gris: “I am innocent. I stand by my word.”
• Count Pierre: “The truth does not matter. There is only the power of men.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The film’s title card font mimics that used in ancient manuscripts.
• Marguerite’s dress colors subtly reflect her psychological state—darkening as the film progresses.
• The film intentionally uses different lighting in each chapter to reflect the narrator’s tone and intent.
• Jean’s and Jacques’s versions of events show Marguerite always perfectly made up, while her version strips away any idealization.

Trivia

• Jodie Comer wore historically accurate, weighty costumes—even during action scenes—to reflect the physical constraints women lived with.
• The horse training for the battle scenes took over two months.
• Ridley Scott had planned this film for over a decade.
• The film’s historical consultant ensured the duel choreography reflected documented medieval fighting styles.

Why Watch?

Watch The Last Duel if you’re looking for a thought-provoking historical drama that doesn’t just recreate the past, but interrogates it. The film offers incredible performances, particularly from Jodie Comer, and uses its multi-perspective storytelling to deliver a powerful message about how history is shaped—and often distorted—by those who tell it.

Director’s Other Movies

• Gladiator (2000)
• Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
• Blade Runner (1982)
• The Martian (2015)
• House of Gucci (2021)
• Napoleon (2023)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Rashomon (1950)
• A Man for All Seasons (1966)
• Gladiator (2000)
• The Crucible (1996)
• The Name of the Rose (1986)
• Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
• The Witch (2015)