It is 1887 and Parisian society is going through transformations that will resonate for decades to come. The supposedly-outlawed practice of men fighting duels to preserve and restore honour still thrives, while women are not permitted to vote, let alone pick up a fencing foil themselves. Against this backdrop of social upheaval comes The Edge of the Blade, a film rich in drama and period detail that recounts the story of both the public and secret conflicts that shaped France in the late 19th century. Actor Vincent Perez (Ladies in Black) steps behind the camera again to direct for the first time since Alone in Berlin in 2016. The impressive cast includes Roschdy Zem (Other People's Children, AF FFF23) as the legendary swordsman Clément Lacaze who becomes entangled in an illegal fencing bout between his nephew and a far more experienced army colonel. Doria Tillier (La Belle Époque, AF FFF21) plays women’s rights activist Marie-Rose Astié, who is attempting to manipulate the conventions of duelling to raise attention for her own cause. When Clément and Marie-Rose join forces, they must defend so much more than outdated notions of honour.