Le duelliste

I must say that the movie I watched had a very broken english translation that took a great deal of my own subjective translating. I really liked it though.

This film is about, what essentially comes down to, a hired gunman. A nobleman pays for someone to stand in for nobility at time when the only price for honor is blood. There are backstories which twist and turn the film in places which helps to make this a nice thriller.

I personally didn't find this to be as bloody as some have made out. Like I mentioned, the english translation for the film I watched was broken and I really had to try and figure a few things out for myself. This was a well filmed movie. The costuming and sets were great. I really did enjoy it and I hope to find a better version so that I might be able to enjoy it all the more. I would suggest this if you like period thrillers.

I, like a Russian who watched a lot of Russian films, declare that this is one of the best! We Russians are not famous for a decent film and we shoot such a film is a great success. Beautiful landscapes, gorgeous costumes, hairstyles, sound ... in this film all worthy of mention. Necessarily to watch all who want to get acquainted with the Russian culture of the 18-19 centuries.

it reminds the atmosphere of Imperial Russia. it gives a dark story, fascinating for the game of levels, using good cinematography, remembering Count of Monte Cristo and using a small love story as spice.the result - a beautiful show, not only as aesthetic product but for a story who, out its bloody dimension, remains seductive for the wise manner to mix the Hollywood standards with the Russian tradition. Pyotr Fyodorov did an admirable job and each new meet with Vladimir Mashkov, especially in a role who reminds Vicomte de Valmont from Dangerous liaisons , is a good thing. so, a beautiful film. maybe not at the high expectations of a part of public but decent and seductive.

Saw it at TIFF 2016.

The sets and costumes are great and the story is engrossing, but be warned that this film is *extremely* violent in places. "Onegin" this is not!

Also, when they are speaking German, there is a Soviet-style voice-over instead of subtitles, so you can't actually hear what the actors are saying.

Overall, it was a very interesting experience!

I recommend seeing it if you are at all interested in Russian culture, but sadly this film is likely to be too lowbrow to meet the approval of the art-house crowd.

"The Duelist" turned out unexpectedly engaging to me. Dark, bloody, yet beautiful. The dark side of honor and the dark side of beauty.

Not historically accurate, yet very, very immersive. Most technical details are plain false. But that aura of Russian Grand Society feels so much true, so natural!

The best definition I could find for this movie is "Noir, transferred into the XIX-th century, Saint-Petersburg, Russia". There's much in common, really. Blood, death, wounds, tortures, nudity... plenty of this. As well as desperation, infamy, cruelty, scheming, femme fatale. Everything you can find in a typical noir. Only the place would be the capital of Russian Empire. Vast palaces, dirty streets, crowded soirees, the shade of the Royal Family, officers, nobles... and the duels!

A rare gem of late Russian cinema, really. Truly underrated.