Thursday, April 14, 2011

Lancelot of the Lake (1974)

Lancelot of the Lake / Lancelot du Lac (1974)
Lancelot of the Lake / Lancelot du Lac (1974)

Genre: Drama
Director: Robert Bresson
Starring: Luc Simon, Laura Duke Condominas, Humbert Balsan
Duration: 85 min.
Rating: 6.3/10

Summary:
After failing to locate the Holy Grail, Lancelot returns alone and empty handed to a Camelot divided by rumour.


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Lancelot of the Lake directed by Robert Bresson, his eleventh film, was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival.  This is his minimalistic and rather experimental take on the Arthurian Legend.

I'm afraid Bresson's style doesn't really suit a story of this nature, and it shows right from the start with a painfully fake looking opening action sequence that looks like it came straight from Monty Python's Holy Grail.  Also, the actors playing Lancelot and Guinevere completely lacked on screen chemistry, and the usual emotionless delivery of dialogue only makes matters worse.

Though I really enjoyed the way the later jousting tournament was shot and edited, cleverly using indirect camera angles and relying on the sounds of hooves, clanking armor, splintering lances and crowd reactions to narrate the events.  This is otherwise a forgettable rendition of the classic tale.

Lancelot of the Lake / Lancelot du Lac (1974)

Lancelot of the Lake / Lancelot du Lac (1974)

Lancelot of the Lake / Lancelot du Lac (1974)

Lancelot of the Lake / Lancelot du Lac (1974)

Lancelot of the Lake / Lancelot du Lac (1974)

Lancelot of the Lake / Lancelot du Lac (1974)

Lancelot of the Lake / Lancelot du Lac (1974)

Lancelot of the Lake / Lancelot du Lac (1974)


8 comments:

The Reel Foto said...

Another awesome poster. :D

Jack L said...

That poster is great!
The film doesn't seem so good though, it's a shame as I would be really happy to see a decent adaptation of the Arthurian legends...

Guy Movie Blogger said...

It's too bad the film isn't great. That poster, on the other hand, is genius material. I love it!

Moviemonstrosity said...

i remember this film!

The Angry Lurker said...

Not for me:D

South Seventh said...

Unfortunately, Lancelot du Lac and Monty Python and the Holy Grail came out within a year of each other and, when I first saw the film in 1975, a substantial number of the audience had already seen the Python movie. As their laughter betrayed, they were incapable for seeing the film for what it really was.

The tendency to see the Arthurian legends as simply the stuff of adventure stories also prevents audience from seeing the film for what it is.

Bresson's mature work addresses religious and philosophical questions. His minimalism and flat affect invites contemplation and thought.

Hermann Rorschach said...

Oh no, I am starting to get backlogged on movies from your site...going to have to be more selective!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I admit, if not for that first scene, my perception of this film may have been more favorable.

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