Monsieur N.

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A Fascinating Story, Sifting through Legend and Fact about Napoleon’s Last Days
9 July 2006 - gradyharp from United States
Director Antoine de Caunes has adapted Rene Manzor’s fine screenplay concerning the enigma that still exists as to the final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte into a film that relates the period of history from 1816 to 1840 during which time the bifurcated responses of the British and French to the legend of Napoleon initiated the scandal that still piques our interest... We see Napoleon as we’ve never seen him, a multi-dimensional character with whom we, as viewers, tend to sympathize. This is not only due to the fine script but also to the unique portrayal by Philippe Torreton.

Very well done ! Great film !
11 November 2005 - dennsylvania from Pennsylvania, US
Very well done ! Great film ! Well acted. Well written. Good directing. Good camera work... I like how the film isn’t just in French, or just in English. The English characters speak English to each other, and speak French to the French. The French characters speak French. This gives the film a realistic feel.

Great storytelling. The viewer falls prey to Napoleon’s charismatic charm as much as those who knew him in person, and we come to feel for him, as if he is a victim of his imprisonment, rather than a deposed tyrannical dictator paying for his vast crimes. His humbled situation brings out his humanity and weakness, yet he still retains his dominance, but through subtler control than his former meglomanical ways. It is almost as if he has lured the audience into routing for him and pitying him, while he secretly pulls our strings. It is also refreshing to see the human side of a once powerful ruler, and brutal military commander, through witnessing his relationships and interactions with others...

It is not "boring history", but the juicy bits that fell through the cracks, that cannot be found in a text book, the story within the story so to speak. The film is based on a combination of know facts, and explored theory. It is an intriguing conspiracy theory, that could well have happened. We may never know the whole truth about Napoleon’s fate, but isn’t it fun to explore the what ifs, especially the ones that make a glorious story ? Watch the film, you’ll enjoy it.