Monsieur N.

Viewers of this film need to be aware that the movie is VERY speculative--sort of a "what if" version of history. In this case, the "what if" is whether or not Napoleon could have escaped from his second exile--the one on St. Helena. However, instead of a documentary-style piece, it is a dramatization of those who knew him in his final years. And, it does a pretty convincing job in this department.

The acting, direction and writing well all good, though I think the movie might have benefited by a little bit more energy. After all, if it is asking us to suspend belief regarding the plot, perhaps they could have infused a little more energy. Oh well, I still enjoyed it and think lovers of history out there will feel the same.

PS--for parents, there is a brief nude scene. It's not THAT explicit, but you might want to consider this when letting your kids see this.

What a surprise.....who thought that Antoine de Caunes of eurotrash fame would deliver such a fantastic film. The actors are without exception fantastic notably Phillippe Torreton as a thoroughly convincing Napoleon and Siobhan Hewlett a young actress who just lights up the screen...she plays the english love of Napoleon from 15, 20 and 40 flipping from french to english dialogue and i hear this is only her second job..she is definitely one to watch. Aside from the acting the film is visually stunning and so true to the period..i researched a lot about napoleon when i did my history degree and it really captures the essence of st helena where napoleon was exiled . go and see it

Of the thousands of movies I've seen so far, this is the first one which made me think of the "wasted talents" expression. I had never EVER seen so many fine actors giving so dreadful performances (Frédéric Pierrot, Elsa Zylberstein,and so on). The "aging" make-up is quite awful and, to make it worse, lit broadly. The use of music (e.g. love at first sight for the young aide de camp) is at times so caricatural that I could feel most spectators around me smile awkwardly. So far, Antoine de Caunes has been quite a good actor, but seeing this one and "les morsures de l'aube" I think he should start considering quitting. Please Antoine, give up that "master of balantree" project ; I doubt you deserve it.

In my top 20 films. Highly recommend. Soundtrack good too. Great watch!

funny, almost saddening how the one who tells the story first makes it their own at the truth's expense. a brilliant piece of motion picture artistry yet the undeniable undertones of English supremacy left a bad taste in my mouth. true to the genius of napoleon, but one has to question whether it was the intellectual workings of a genius' mind we were bearing witness to or the one who unwittingly outwits the genius, even though by the dumbest of luck. the mind is the most unforgiving of captures and physical captivity is a mere detail if compared to it. that is what i came out of the movie in awe of. the story has been recycled and repetitively told much to the detriment of it's truth and purity; and even though it has been airbrushed to do away with the blemishes, one can not help but feel that the newly-created veneer of English supremacy was the gremlin in their propaganda machine.

i highly recommend the movie, intriguing to the final scene.