The Deadly Breaking Sword (1979)

Here is a brief graphical representation of some of the key plot elements in this movie.

There are more cogs whirring than in a steampunk wet dream.

I believe it’s testimony to good movie making when I can watch a movie in a language I don’t speak, a culture I don’t understand, hysterically awkward subtitles (no dubbing), and a plot this convoluted in just 1 hour and 41 minutes (including credits) – and I can still walk away with this good a comprehension of the storyline, key relationships , and a deep and abiding hatred of the two main ‘heroes’ who are delightfully perfectly imperfect.

I could compare this to many other movies – many of them in my own language, culture and era – where sometimes I still have trouble connecting the dots, but frankly I’m just Joe Public, not a real film critic, and I don’t really have time. But it was very enjoyable.