Ridley Scott directed and produced The Last Duel, a historical drama film released in 2021. Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon wrote the script, which is based on Eric Jager’s novel of the same name. The film stars Damon as Jean de Carrouges, a knight who challenges his friend and squire, Jacques Le Gris played by Adam Driver, to a duel when Carrouges’ wife who is played by Jodie Comer accuses Le Gris of raping her.
Scott creates a mediaeval narrative, based on a true story, that is by turns gory, disgusting, exquisite, and inconsistent, adapted from Eric Jager’s 2004 non-fiction book with screenwriters Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Nicole Holofcener.
France is ravaged by the Hundred Years’ War, and knight Jean de Carrouges has been battling for nearly a year. When Jean returns from battle, he is perplexed and unaware of what has happened to his wife Marguerite. She claims to have been raped by his best friend and fellow knight, Jacques LeGris, and she tells him over a warm yet fiery fire, looking tearfully into his eyes, praying that he will believe her.
Carrouges, knowing he wouldn’t get a fair criminal trial, petitioned King Charles VI for a Game of Thrones-style battle trial. Because the preliminary judges were unable to reach a decision, the King agreed to a duel, with Carrouges throwing down a gauntlet at the Paris Parliament, which was picked up by Le Gris. The battle would be to the death, with the victor judged innocent in God’s sight. If Carrouges lost, Marguerite would be burned at the stake for perjury.
The Last Duel filming locations
The book’s adaptation was first announced in 2015, but it wasn’t formally greenlit until July 2019. That month, Affleck and Damon were announced as stars and co-writers, with Comer and Driver joining the ensemble later that year. From February to October 2020, filming was conducted in France and Ireland, with a brief hiatus owing to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The filming of The Last Duel took place in Ireland and France. Cahir Castle in Ireland, as well as Château de Beynac, Château de Fénelon, Château de Berzé, and Abbaye de Fontfroide in France, were used as filming sites.
France
Among the locations in France is the Fontfroide Abbey. Aimery I, Viscount of Narbonne, founded Fontfroide Abbey in 1093. It remained poor and obscure, and Ermengarde, Viscountess of Narbonne, had to refound it. It was once a Benedictine abbey, but between 1144 and 1145, it was absorbed into the Cistercian order.
During the French Revolution, it was disbanded in 1791. Monks from Sénanque Abbey re-founded it in 1858. In 1901, the community was expelled from France. The properties were purchased by the painters Gustave and Madeleine Fayet d’Andoque in 1908 in order to protect the fabric of the buildings from an American sculpture collector. They spent years restoring it and using it as a venue for artistic endeavours. It is still in private ownership.
Another location is the Château de Fénelon is a castle in the Dordogne region of France. It sits one kilometre east of the community of Sainte-Mondane, on a hill. The castle’s oldest visible components originate from the 12th century. However, about the year 1000, a castle was built on this site.
Ireland
In Ireland, filming primarily took place in Cahir castle. Cahir Castle, which dates from the 13th century, is one of Ireland’s largest castles and has been designated as an Irish Heritage monument due to its excellent preservation. Built as a fortress for the Butler family on a rocky island in the River Suir, the site was thought to be invincible at one point in its history. Because of its majestic towers, stone walls, and attractive surroundings, it is now a renowned tourist attraction.
On September 10, 2021, The Last Duel had its global premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and it will be available for viewing in the United States on October 15.