Summary
“Le duel” unfurls a poignant narrative steeped in the rigid societal codes of early 20th-century France, examining the perilous intersection of love, honor, and social standing. The film centers on the luminous Élise (Lucienne Parizet), a young woman whose affections are tragically divided between two starkly contrasting men. On one hand stands Captain André (Jean Murat), a noble military officer bound by an unwavering code of honor and a quiet, steadfast love. On the other, the charismatic yet duplicitous Baron Armand (Gabriel Gabrio), whose considerable wealth and influence mask a possessive and manipulative nature. When a public slight, cunningly orchestrated by Armand to discredit André and assert his claim over Élise, escalates into an unavoidable challenge, the lives of all three protagonists become irrevocably intertwined. They hurtle towards a fateful dawn where pistols will decide not merely a matter of honor, but the very trajectory of love, sacrifice, and the enduring power of reputation in a society obsessed with appearances.
