HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT: Ladyhawke

The Film Experience’s “Hit me with your best shot” series is back for another season! To kick things off, we looked at 1985’s Ladyhawke. I must admit, I had never even heard of this film before, but that’s what I love about this series. While I was watching, I found the film slightly weird. It’s very much an 80’s movie, particularly the score and the sound effects. At first, I was confused by the film’s strange obsession with the hawk, the sun and the moon. Of course, we later find out that it all has a purpose.
I went into the film expecting it to be more action-oriented. However, the swordplay was really just a smokescreen for the romance. I was particularly struck by the sentimentality of the men in the film. Hence, my favourite shot attempts to highlight this.

Click below for my favourite shot...



This shot comes from the very end of the film, after Isabeau and Navarre finally break the curse and have their happily ever after. The kiss just caught me off guard, as it almost contradicts Phillipe’s (Matthew Broderick) wiseguy persona. When we first meet him, He comes across as a bit of a thieving scoundrel. However, as the film progresses, we see that he really is good at heart. I half expected him to steal the girl, but as this shot suggests, even he gets enchanted by the tragic love story.