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Lancelot of the Lake

Original title: Lancelot du Lac
  • 19741974
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
4K
YOUR RATING
Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
King Arthur learns about his wife's, Queen Guinevere, affair with Lancelot, who at the same time remains loyal to the king, particularly after Arthur's traitorous nephew Mordred commits an attempt on his life.
Play trailer2:01
1 Video
88 Photos
DramaFantasyRomance
King Arthur learns that his wife, Queen Guinevere, has been having an affair with Lancelot, who at the same time remains loyal to the king, particularly after Arthur's traitorous nephew Mord... Read allKing Arthur learns that his wife, Queen Guinevere, has been having an affair with Lancelot, who at the same time remains loyal to the king, particularly after Arthur's traitorous nephew Mordred commits an attempt on his life.King Arthur learns that his wife, Queen Guinevere, has been having an affair with Lancelot, who at the same time remains loyal to the king, particularly after Arthur's traitorous nephew Mordred commits an attempt on his life.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
4K
YOUR RATING
    • Robert Bresson
  • Stars
    • Luc Simon
    • Laura Duke Condominas
    • Humbert Balsan
    • Robert Bresson
  • Stars
    • Luc Simon
    • Laura Duke Condominas
    • Humbert Balsan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:01
    Watch Trailer

    Photos88

    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)
    Lancelot of the Lake (1974)

    Top cast

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    Luc Simon
    • Lancelot du Lac
    Laura Duke Condominas
    • La Reine (The Queen)
    Humbert Balsan
    • Gauvain
    Vladimir Antolek-Oresek
    • Le Roi (The King)
    Patrick Bernhard
    • Mordred
    • (as Patrick Bernard)
    Arthur De Montalembert
    • Lionel
    Charles Balsan
    Christian Schlumberger
    Joseph-Patrick Le Quidre
    Joseph-Patrick Le Quidre
    Jean-Paul Leperlier
    Marie-Louise Buffet
    Marie-Gabrielle Cartron
    Antoine Rabaud
    Jean-Marie Becar
    Guy de Bernis
    Philippe Chleq
      • Robert Bresson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lee Daniel, Richard Linklater's director of photography, stated that this film's long tracking shots had a great influence on the long takes in Slacker (1990).
    • Goofs
      When the knight is stabbed in the gut, the blood is visibly coming from the sword instead of the wound.
    • Quotes

      La Reine (The Queen): Take this heart, take this soul. They belong to you.

      Lancelot du Lac: It is your body I want.

      La Reine (The Queen): Take this forbidden body. Take it, revive it.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Road to Bresson (1984)

    User reviews40

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    If nothing else, it's probably the only French New Wave film that begins with a decapitation!
    I'm still inching into the cinema of Robert Bresson, as I would a hot bath. I saw Pickpocket a couple of months ago. I liked it, but didn't agree that it was a masterpiece of any sort. I picked up Lancelot of the Lake because the video box caught my eye. I didn't expect a French New Wave guy to be directing Medieval drama (I also rented Rohmer's Perceval at the same time, but have not yet watched it), especially Bresson, whom I associate with a certain slowness.

    The result is mixed. The film is certainly not entirely successful, but I'd say that it is an extraordinarily interesting film. I have a problem with his decision to erase all emotion from his actors. That works decently in Pickpocket, but not as well here. The story takes place after the Knights of the Round Table have failed to find the Holy Grail. They return defeated. They feel that they have been denied by God himself. And then they begin to doubt themselves, and eventually to turn against each other. The story is one that ought to be imbued with emotions, especially Lancelot and Guinivere. Also, Lancelot's enemies, who are jealous of his affair with the queen more than they are angry on King Arthur's behalf, their rivalry should be readable on their faces. Instead, the actors emote about as much as cardboard cutouts. I guess Bresson is going for naturalism, but he falls way below that mark. Real people have emotions.

    On the other hand, Robert Bresson's direction, that is, everything but the acting, is excellent. Most everything works, and there are many masterful sequences. It's perfectly paced (well, that is, if you like his style). The editing is often amazing. The art direction and music are also very good. As for the script, well, it can sometimes be confusing. Once in a while, I got a bit lost. But most of it works really well. 7/10.
    helpful•10
    14
    • zetes
    • Feb 18, 2002

    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 31, 1974 (Italy)
      • France
      • Italy
      • French
    • Also known as
    • Production companies
      • Mara Films
      • Laser Productions
      • Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 25 minutes
      • Mono

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