Cinema: Ye Olde Lonesome Road

Heron of Foix (Assaf Dayan) is not wise in the ways of the world, but he is eager. He is young, and he has a great longing to behold the sea. He is expelled from the university and goes in search of the ocean and experience that will make him truly a man. To achieve this worthy goal he must cross a countryside of the 14th century ravaged by war and fear. He must undergo many adventures and many hardships. For his route lies directly down the road of life, and yea, verily, his journey is A Walk with Love and Death.

Gypsies, vassals, whoremasters. mummers and murderers await Heron at every turn of the road. Each encounter teaches Heron something new. It is when Heron meets Claudia (Anjelica Huston), the doe-eyed daughter of a benign monarch, that he begins to grow to manhood with a fearful swiftness. He protects Claudia when the peasants sack her father’s domain. The peasants are exceeding wroth. Heron and Claudia flee. But no man will give them refuge. They have only the shelter of their hearts. Perhaps it is the wind in the trees, but it surely sounds as if Heron, much in despair, cries: “Oh, Claudia, why must man always make war? Why cannot he rest and make love?” Claudia can give no reply. Truly, it is a great question.

The father superior at an old abbey offers the lovers temporary refuge but. alas, insists that they stay in separate parts of the building. Claudia and Heron ask to be married, but the father superior refuses in great heat. Claudia and Heron, likewise in great heat, awake in the night to find that the abbey has been deserted. In desperation they perform the nuptial ceremony themselves, for time grows short and the soldiers surely approach. Claudia and Heron cling to each other like the very vines as the enemy closes in on them. Neither will ever see the sea.

John Huston, one formerly to whom much honor was due, filmed this woeful tale and even subjected his own daughter to it. Dale Wasserman set it down in words taken by Hans Koningsberger from his own novel, perhaps with a broadsword. Moshe Dayan’s son traveled all the way from Israel to take part. These all have conspired together to produce this thing, and all must share equally in the blame. There is, truly, more than sufficient for each.