The Duelist (2016)

I, like a Russian who watched a lot of Russian films, declare that this is one of the best! We Russians are not famous for a decent film and we shoot such a film is a great success. Beautiful landscapes, gorgeous costumes, hairstyles, sound ... in this film all worthy of mention. Necessarily to watch all who want to get acquainted with the Russian culture of the 18-19 centuries.

I don't have nothing to add. It is absolutely amazing movie.

I really don't get why this movie is getting dissed and why it bombed so badly. I'm guessing people have an attitude because it's a Russian production (and subtitled). A long time ago that doomed the excellent period piece 'Waterloo'. The director, Aleksey Mizgirev, watched 'The Duelists' by Ridley Scott for preparation, another movie that is very underrated.I found this movie to be really engaging. The story never drags. It's beautifully shot with great production design and cinematography. It's an intriguing look at honor and nobility as interpreted by the Russian culture. The story is a bit reminiscent of Dostoevsky. There's a bad Count who had banished the duelist and as irony would have it, years later he employs the same man to fight duels to rid himself of enemies.The film is well acted. Pyotr Fyodorov is stoic and sort of badass as the title character. He really fills the role very well. Vladimir Mashkov is a commanding presence as the evil count. Yuliya Khlynina plays the easy to look at, in slightly over her head, Princess, who becomes the love interest of both the duelist and the evil count.I definitely recommend this movie for fans of period pieces.

It is the first time when i see a Russian movie, it was a pleasure. Set in Saint Petersburg in 1860, the story revolves around retired officer Yakovlev. A deadly shot, Yakovlev is effectively a kind of mercenary in that he is available for hire through his associate Baron Staroe to stand in for others in formal duels. Much later in the film, flashbacks reveal that years ago an Aleut shaman has predicted he would never die, and so far that seems about right as Yakovlev wins duel after duel, wounding and more often killing noble opponents. Although duels of honor are technically illegal in Russia at the time, no one pays the law a blind bit of notice. The code of practice is not written down anywhere, and yet everyone knows the rules and rituals, while many participants see it as an almost mystical rite. To take part in a duel is to accept that one's fate is ultimately in the hands of God, hence the practice of Russian roulette. Eventually, it turns out that all of Yakovlev's recent duels were secretly arranged by Count Beklemishev. He is a shadowy puppet master with a grudge and designs on Princess Martha Tuchkova whose brother Prince Tuchkov Yakovlev is scheduled to duel with next. When attraction stirs between him and the pretty blond princess, problems arise, especially since, as the flashbacks reveal, Yakovlev has an agenda of his own. I think "The Duelist" is a great movie, i recommend it. Congratulations actors especially young actress Julia Khlynina.