Perceval le Gallois (transl.Perceval the Welshman) is a 1978 historical drama film written and directed by Éric Rohmer, based on the 12th-century Arthurian romance Perceval, the Story of the Grail by Chrétien de Troyes.

Perceval le Gallois
Theatrical release poster
Directed byÉric Rohmer
Screenplay byÉric Rohmer
Based onPerceval, the Story of the Grail
by Chrétien de Troyes
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyNéstor Almendros
Edited byCécile Decugis
Music byGuy Robert
Production
companies
Distributed byGaumont
Release dates
  • 8 October 1978 (1978-10-08) (New York City)
  • 7 February 1979 (1979-02-07) (France)
  • 6 November 1979 (1979-11-06) (West Germany)
Running time
140 minutes
Countries
  • France
  • Italy
  • West Germany
LanguageFrench

Synopsis

edit

The film chronicles Percival's knighthood, maturation and eventual peerage amongst the Knights of the Round Table, and also contains brief episodes from the story of Gawain and the crucifixion of Christ.

Cast

edit

Presentation

edit

Unlike other screen adaptations of Arthurian legend, the film makes no attempt at situating the characters in a natural or supernatural world. Instead, Perceval and his cohorts inhabit a colorful theatrical realm replete with rudimentary props, stylized backdrops, and a singing chorus that participates in the drama. At many points, characters narrate their own actions and thoughts rather than expressing them manifestly, and dialog is frequently spoken lyrically in rhyming couplets taken directly from the original text. The film's deliberate artificiality, ironic vision of youthful valor, and frequently shifting narrative modes prevent emotional attachment to the story while leaving space for a more cerebral engagement with the elements of storytelling Rohmer has interpreted from 12th-century literature.

References

edit
  • Lacy, Norris J. (1991). "Rohmer, Eric". In Lacy, Norris J. (ed.). The New Arthurian Encyclopedia. New York: Garland. p. 389. ISBN 978-0-82404-377-3.
  • Paden, William D. (2005). "I Learned It at the Movies: Teaching Medieval Film". In Utz, Richard; Swan, Jesse G. (eds.). Postmodern Medievalisms. Studies in Medievalism. Cambridge: Boydell & Brewer. pp. 79–98. ISBN 978-1-84384-012-1.
edit