Lancelot du Lac

France/1974—directed by Robert Bresson | 85 min.

In Lancelot du Lac, Robert Bresson masterfully reimagines the legend of King Arthur, focusing on the stark aftermath of failed quests and fractured loyalties. Upon returning home without the Holy Grail, King Arthur discovers Queen Guinevere's affair with Sir Lancelot. 

Stripping away melodrama, Bresson hones in on the raw physicality of the era—thundering horse hooves, clanging armor, and the visceral sound of swords being drawn. Newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative, this cinematic masterpiece transcends its story, becoming an otherworldly exploration of human frailty and betrayal. In French with English subtitles.

“Beautiful, mesmerizing, exhausting, amazing—all the things you could possibly expect from a masterpiece." –Geoff Brown, Time Out (UK)