The Last Duel, which has just hit cinemas, is actually based on the true story of a famed duel between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques le Gris in 14th century France.
It’s December 1386. A knight and a squire face off in the last duel sanctioned by the French crown in the latest based-on-a-true-story movie from “Black Hawk Down” director Ridley Scott. The knight has accused the squire of raping his wife and a battle to the death will determine guilt or innocence.
Marine veteran Adam Driver plays squire Jacques Le Gris, Matt Damon plays the knight Jean de Carrouges and Jodie Comer plays Lady Marguerite, whose rape led to the duel. Ben Affleck is Pierre D'Alencon, the count to whom both men report in their service to the king of France.
I have to confess that The Last Duel takes a little getting used to. It's set in medieval France and it features a scar-riddled Matt Damon sporting facial hair that's almost comically unbecoming not to mention that weird kind of stilted historical-movie dialogue ("My lord, the accusation is false!") that suggests people in the 14th century spoke in a far more cultured way than we do now. Even the illiterates, like Damon's character, Jean de Carrouges.