I didn't know about this movies existence until today which surprised me because of my love for French cinema, medieval settings in media and most importantly Julie Delphy. Normally I don't like to tell people not to watch movies because I think everyone has their own tastes and should be able to form their own opinions. however this film is definitely not for everyone, sometimes certain scenes which could negatively affect the viewer can be skipped but in this film they are rather important for the plot. So if themes like incest, sexual assault and child abuse affect you, which should be everybody, then maybe consider skipping this movie, I wasn't aware these themes would be in the movie and caused me to skip the more graphic scenes.
Aside from certain scenes the film was rather enjoyable the plot consists of a knights daughter's, played by Delphy, experience when her father, played by Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, returns from war and her realization that he isn't as she remembers. We are never quite sure how he acted before leaving if he has been changed by his experience in the war or if he has always been evil, which adds some dimension to his character when we see him clearly shaken by his experience in battle and his capture when recounting 'his exploits' and him secluding himself on the tower as he did when his father went to war in his childhood. The writing reminds me of Shakespeare without the Middle English vocabulary and the performances from Delphy, Donnadieu and the supporting cast as very good Nils Tavernier is another standout for me playing a son completely broken by his fathers oppression who finds solace in the female characters such as his Sister and the peasant mother who nurses him next to her child. I wasn't surprised to see that this movie has got mixed reviews online, It is very slow paced and features very understated performances as well as the harshness of Donnadieu's character François de Cortemart who despite his horrible war experiences is utterly detestable in his treatment of his children and subjects. Despite some of the more graphic scenes I enjoy slow paced movies with complicated characters and performances which is why I've rated it as highly as I have.
I didn't know about this movies existence until today which surprised me because of my love for French cinema, medieval settings in media and most importantly Julie Delphy. Normally I don't like to tell people not to watch movies because I think everyone has their own tastes and should be able to form their own opinions. however this film is definitely not for everyone, sometimes certain scenes which could negatively affect the viewer can be skipped but in this film they are rather important for the plot. So if themes like incest, sexual assault and child abuse affect you, which should be everybody, then maybe consider skipping this movie, I wasn't aware these themes would be in the movie and caused me to skip the more graphic scenes.
Aside from certain scenes the film was rather enjoyable the plot consists of a knights daughter's, played by Delphy, experience when her father, played by Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, returns from war and her realization that he isn't as she remembers. We are never quite sure how he acted before leaving if he has been changed by his experience in the war or if he has always been evil, which adds some dimension to his character when we see him clearly shaken by his experience in battle and his capture when recounting 'his exploits' and him secluding himself on the tower as he did when his father went to war in his childhood. The writing reminds me of Shakespeare without the Middle English vocabulary and the performances from Delphy, Donnadieu and the supporting cast as very good Nils Tavernier is another standout for me playing a son completely broken by his fathers oppression who finds solace in the female characters such as his Sister and the peasant mother who nurses him next to her child. I wasn't surprised to see that this movie has got mixed reviews online, It is very slow paced and features very understated performances as well as the harshness of Donnadieu's character François de Cortemart who despite his horrible war experiences is utterly detestable in his treatment of his children and subjects. Despite some of the more graphic scenes I enjoy slow paced movies with complicated characters and performances which is why I've rated it as highly as I have.
