The Duelists (1977)

Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Keith Carradine, Harvey Keitel

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For a film whose title is plural, we are really only allowed access to D'Hubert (Keith Carradine) in the film. Based on a Joseph Conrad story, The Duellists, like Conrad's Heart of Darkness, follows a battle of wills between two men, these two men being soldiers in Bonaparte's military during the Napoleonic Wars. The film opens in a duel between Keitel's character, Feraud, and a fellow who we soon learn to be the mayor's nephew. An officer enlists D'Hubert to summon Feraud to account his actions to the officer, but D'Hubert himself ends up duelling with Feraud against his will. This sets up a rivalry that lasts thoughout both men's lives. Feraud follows D'Hubert throughout the several campaigns the two fight for Bonaparte and engages D'Hubert in "the gentleman's battle" everytime he catches him. The film details these battles of power and physicality as Feraud obsesses over a need for honor, chasing D'Hubert across the continent and ruining a chance for D'Hubert to simply lead his life. Unfortunately we are never allowed to understand what makes Feraud tick, and D'Hubert's battle for mere survival everytime the men meet is only made interesting by the mutual respect the two men forge for one another over the course of their meetings and battles. Had we been allowed just a little more insight into Keitel's character, the film could have been incredibly gripping. What the film lacks in its characters, however, it more than makes up for in aesthetic beauty. I found myself "recognizing" several shots from my time spent in art museums. The film is absolutely gorgeous.

July 1
apartment TV, morning

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