IMDb > Lancelot du Lac (1974)

Lancelot du Lac (1974) More at IMDbPro »


IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   1,048 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Robert Bresson (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Lancelot of the Lake on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 September 1974 (France) more
Genre:
Plot:
A million miles away from 'Camelot' or 'Excalibur', this film ruthlessly strips the Arthurian legend down to its barest essentials... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win more
User Comments:
Subversion of an old tale more (27 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Lancelot of the Lake (USA)
Lancillotto e Ginevra (Italy)
Le graal
The Grail
more
Runtime:
Hong Kong:85 min | Argentina:88 min | USA:85 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Movie Connections:

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
21 out of 22 people found the following comment useful.
Subversion of an old tale, 1 November 2005
Author: flasuss from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

You know that everything is possible and cinema has no limits when the most austere, minimalist and anti-conventional director of all-time shoots his version of the story of Camelot... and makes a masterpiece. In the first shot we see two unknown knights having a typical medieval fight; one of them eventually is hit and fall dead, and some blood runs through the ground. The winner goes away. But the difference is that it is shown in the most raw way possible, without any kind of beauty or visual show to please the audience. That's the essence of Bresson's cinema: "only the necessary", said the master. Then, after the credits, we see that is not the Holy Grail story, the traditional story, but what happens next, it begins were the legend ends. The knights return demoralized to the kingdom. Their leader, Percival, is lost, and Lancelot blames himself and his adultery with Guinevere as the reason that the Grail was not found- the search for it was, for him, also the search for God. The Queen is not convinced, and ask his love with words which have nothing extraordinary alone; however, the emotionless way she asks makes it unusual, and somewhat disturbing. The knights are completely demystified and shown not as legend, but men, and men which lack something: is it love, God, a reason to live now that their search is over (and was unsuccessful)? Maybe all that, maybe more, but the fact is that eventually it will explode, and Camelot's decadence will be inevitable. Bresson's ultra-naturalistic and anti-conventional style makes it's images very powerful. The best are a tournament when he applies one of his principles "to give something for the ears and then for the eyes, never both", increasing the effect of the combats, which would have seem even foolish otherwise, and the ending, which is a very shocking one. Because of all that, Lancelot of the Lake is one of the finest films of one of cinema's greatest masters. Mainstream audiences will probably hate it, but one who's eager to see another side of a very known story should see it.

PS: I'm quoting out of memory, so it maybe not be the exacts Bresson's words

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (27 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Lancelot du Lac (1974)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Excalibur Tristan + Isolde Ye yan Alexander Prince Valiant
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb France section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.