Parents' Guide to The Duellists

Parents need to know that The Duellists is an excellent period drama -- set during the 19th century, about a pair of rival French soldiers -- with violent scenes. The film is notable for being acclaimed director Ridley Scott's first feature film, with Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel playing feuding Lieutenants d'Hubert and Feraud respectively. Both characters are criticized by others for being proud and self-absorbed, both of which are contributing factors to their quarrel. There is also a class divide between the two soldiers despite them holding equal rank, which is part of the reason the privileged d'Hubert is disliked by Feraud. Violence is central to the story, with sword and gun use resulting in bloody injury and some death. Characters are criticized for being needlessly violent toward one another, but men are violent to women without repercussions. Characters occasionally drink alcohol, while some smoke tobacco from pipes. The movie is set in France and other European nations during the reign of Napoleon. While the characters are French, the cast is Anglo-American and predominantly White and male. Female characters do feature, but mainly as love interests to the male leads.

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