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The Duellists
1977 100 min United Kingdom, United States of America PG 16+
★7.4
Drama, War
Director: Ridley Scott
🎭 Based on
«The Duel»
byJoseph Conrad
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
In 1800, as Napoleon Bonaparte rises to power in France, a rivalry erupts between Armand and Gabriel, two lieutenants in the French Army, over a perceived insult. For over a decade, they engage in a series of duels amidst larger conflicts, including the failed French invasion of Russia in 1812, and shifts in the political and social systems of Europe.
Budget:
$900,000
Starring
Keith Carradine
Actor
Harvey Keitel
Actor
Albert Finney
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 1977
— Best Debut
Cannes Film Festival 1977
— Palme d'Or
BAFTA 1979
— Best Cinematography
BAFTA 1979
— Best Costume Design
Key opinion
Ridley Scott's directorial debut is widely praised as a masterful and visually arresting period drama that effectively adapts Joseph Conrad's story. Despite budget constraints, the film excels in its authentic atmosphere, nuanced exploration of obsession, and the intense chemistry between its two lead actors.
| Cinematography | The cinematography and production design create a highly immersive, painterly, and authentic Napoleonic-era atmosphere despite the film's limited budget. | |
| Acting | The performances of Harvey Keitel and Keith Carradine effectively anchor the film, with Keitel's volatile, animalistic energy contrasting perfectly against Carradine's restrained, gentlemanly persona. | |
| Adaptation | The film successfully translates Joseph Conrad's thematic focus on the absurdity of obsession, the futility of war, and the rigid, often destructive, codes of honor. | |
| Pacing | The narrative's pacing divides viewers; some find the slow, contemplative tempo necessary for the film's psychological depth, while others perceive it as a hurdle to the overall engagement. | |
| Theme | Opinions on character development are split; while many praise the psychological depth of the protagonists' rivalry, some critics find the individual characterizations to be shallow or lacking nuanced chemistry. |