Ridley Scott’s latest film is an epic foray into the political and social battlefields of 14th century France. The Last Duel stars Matt Damon, Adam Driver, and Jodie Comer and explores the implications of an accusation of assault that leads to the dissolution of a marriage and the last legally sanctioned duel in French history. Separated into three parts, each one focuses on a different character’s perspective of the historical events that are unfolding.
Throughout the film, there are many acts of bravery that are presented in various forms, with differing conflicts at hand. Outside of the film’s three main characters, there are quieter acts of bravery committed by supporting characters as well.
Count Pierre D’Alencon
One of The Last Duel‘s best characters, Count Pierre is played by Benn Affleck as a crude and powerful man. Pierre aligns himself with Le Gris, and stands by him after hearing of his assault against Marguerite – a courageous act of friendship in itself. Pierre exhibits characteristics that are the opposite of the men who vie for his intention, oftentimes appearing clear-headed and intelligent.
Pierre initially denies De Carrouges’s request for a duel against Le Gris. While the efforts are to protect Le Gris, it is also a valiant attempt to stop either man competing in a battle to the death. Perhaps not the bravest character in the film, Pierre is smart enough to not get involved in any situation that would do him any harm. He acts as he sees fit, whether morally just or not.
Sir Robert De Thibouville
De Thibouville, played by Nathaniel Parker, is father to Marguerite and father-in-law to De Carrouges. Considering the practical nature of De Thibouville’s character, he isn’t particularly brave throughout the film. Needing to clear debts to Count Pierre, he agrees for his daughter to be married off to De Carrouges, and does everything to keep his disgraced past at bay.
However, in a film filled with issues of morality, De Thibouville is one of the more virtuous characters. Considering the political landscape, this is brave in itself, even if it is just an attempt to keep his reputation clean.
Nicole De Buchard
A woman with a typically frosty disposition, De Buchard (played by Harriet Walter), has had her life unfairly defined by the men around her. De Buchard tries to convince her daughter-in-law, Marguerite, to stay silent of Le Gris’s assault on her, believing this to be the best outcome.
From The Last Duel‘s feminist point of view, the act is skewered as De Buchard is trying to prevent the justice Marguerite seeks, yet her sentiment is one based upon her own traumas and therefore isn’t an act of cowardice. De Buchard’s warnings stem from an assault that happened to her and the misogyny she has been subjected to her entire life, which makes her brave in her own right, even if she didn’t have the same courage as Marguerite to speak out.
Jacques Le Gris
Adam Driver plays the role of Jacques Le Gris, The Last Duel‘s wickedly villainous and smart squire who assaults Marguerite and engages in a duel with De Carrouges to clear his name. His bravery is bound up in his absolute commitment to his own cause – despite knowing he did wrong, he still proceeds in the fight to the death to prove he has been wrongly accused.
While Le Gris is the obvious villain of the film, he exhibits massive amounts of courage in his attempt to prove his innocence. Considering Le Gris’s attempts at defending his honor result in his gory death, it would be amiss to not acknowledge the tremendous bravery of his character. That he goes down fighting to the last moment shows his defiance, even if his death is deserved.
Jean De Carrouges
De Carrouges, played by Matt Damon, is a man whose identity is shrouded in bitterness and resentment as he seeks revenge on the man who assaulted his wife. However, De Carrouges’s motives for challenging Le Gris to a duel are built on a lifetime of hating the man, rather than being completely about defending his wife’s honor.
De Carrouges’s plea to King Charles VI for a duel against Le Gris is, however, an immense act of bravery, even if his motivations are not completely pure. He is aware that he may die in the duel against Le Gris, and if he does, it means certain death for Marguerite too, and thus shows great courage. He is willing to die to defend not only his honor, but also his wife’s, and it it is this act that defines him as a noble and courageous character.
Marguerite De Carrouges
In one of her best roles to date, Jodie Comer plays the courageous yet daunted Marguerite. Faced with an unspeakable decision of whether to live a lie or to die for her honor and integrity, Marguerite’s bravery in light of her dire circumstances is formidable. After Le Gris’s assault and, despite the warnings from Nicole De Buchard, Marguerite pledges her case to the courts, desperate to clear her own name and get justice for herself.
While the whole world seems against her – including her own husband – Marguerite maintains a sense of integrity, even when faced with her potential death should De Carrouges lose the duel. Marguerite’s defiance to not be silenced is admirable, and her courage rarely falters, thus she succeeds in defending her honor and becomes the film’s most heroic character.
