Perceval: King Arthur's Knight of the Holy Grail

The story of Perceval originated in the late twelfth century when Chrétien de Troyes, the premier poet of that era, wrote romances for the courts of Marie of Champagne and Philip of Flanders. Chrétien's version, although unfinished, inspired a multitude of variants that followed immediately afterward. Young Perceval, awed by five knights from King Arthur's Round Table, decides that he, too, wants to become a knight. After training for a short while, he quickly achieves his goal, defeating many an enemy and sending them back to King Arthur's court. During his travels, he stumbles upon a mysterious castle inhabited by an ailing king. There he witnesses an unusual procession of maidens and pages who are escorting a dazzling cup to a secret chamber.