Ridley Scott says his mother inspired Jodie Comer's character in his new film The Last Duel. The adaptation of the book of the same name by Eric Jager is one of two films from the 83-year-old director releasing in 2021, along with House of Gucci. The Last Duel is scheduled to release wide in the US on October 15.
Based in part on a real-life story, Scott's film depicts a fictionalized version of the last trial by combat to be legally granted in France, between Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver). Jean's wife, Marguerite (Comer), accuses Jacques of having raped her, a charge he firmly asserts is false. Reportedly told in a Rashomon-esque rotation between perspectives, The Last Duel was written by Damon, Ben Affleck (who also stars as Count Pierre d'Alençon), and Nicole Holofcener, with each writing one character's point of view.
Scott, for his part, tells Empire that The Last Duel's characterization of Marguerite draws on his personal life. He describes his mother as a formative, assertive presence during his childhood and the clear head of the family, which influenced how he directed Comer's performance. Indeed, this can be considered the root of the many strong female characters littered throughout his filmography:
I think it boils down to a woman in my life who was 4’ 11”. My mother. She was the boss, without f**king question. She would drive us relentlessly. We virtually saluted every morning.
Elsewhere in the interview, Scott addresses the controversy surrounding The Last Duel, which has seen some questioning if the male filmmakers involved in the project are the right people to tell this story. “They’ve got to look at my bio," the Thelma & Louise and Alien director says. "The most powerful pro-woman film that I made was G.I. Jane. People forget that for some reason."
While viewers are anticipating The Last Duel as both a Scott film and the first reunion of Damon and Affleck as screenwriters since Good Will Hunting, many are waiting to see how The Last Duel will handle its subject matter. The film had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in early September, and early critical reviews were divided on that very issue, with what worked for some being underwhelming for others. Fans of Scott's work won't have too long to wait until they can judge The Last Duel for themselves.
Source: Empire
