Lancelot du Lac (film)
| Lancelot du Lac | |
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Theatrical film poster
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| Directed by | Robert Bresson |
| Produced by |
Jean-Pierre Rassam Francois Rochas |
| Written by | Robert Bresson |
| Starring |
Luc Simon Laura Duke Condominas Humbert Balsan Vladimir Antolek-Oresek Patrick Bernhard |
| Music by | Philippe Sarde |
| Cinematography | Pasqualino De Santis |
| Edited by | Germaine Artus |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | Gaumont |
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Release date
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May 1974 (Cannes) 26 September 1974 (France) |
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Running time
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85 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Language | French |
Lancelot du Lac is a 1974 French fantasy drama film written and directed by Robert Bresson. It retells the story of Lancelot and Guinevere's love as Camelot and the Round Table fall apart. It is based on Arthurian legend and medieval romances, especially the Lancelot-Grail cycle, and the works of Chrétien de Troyes.
In common with Bresson's later films, the cast was composed of amateur actors, several of whom did not appear in any other film. Bresson's direction demanded a purposeful lack of emotion in the acting style, and reduced or eliminated the fantastical elements of the Grail legend. This unglamorous depiction of the Middle Ages emphasizes blood and grime over fantasy.
King Arthur has sent out 100 knights to retrieve the Holy Grail. Arthur is dismayed when it turns out that the mission was futile and 70 knights have died in its course. Among those who have returned is the Queen's lover Lancelot. Soon Lancelot again takes part in a tournament. There he gets injured. While Lancelot seeks recovery in his own castle, Arthur learns about his wife's affair and, heavily agitated by Mordred, he puts Queen Guinevre in prison. With Lancelot's help she breaks out. Arthur starts immediately a campaign against the castle where the lovers were looking for shelter. During the siege Lancelot happens to kill his old mate Gawain. Driven by sorrow he tries to end the fight and wants to negotiate a treaty with King Arthur. When he witnesses how Mordred commits an attempt on Arthur he joins without hesitating the side of the king. In the end Arthur and Lancelot and all the other knights of the legendary round table are slaughtered.
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