Napoléon (et moi)

This film is about a young teacher who has strong opinion about Napoleon as a bad person. The teacher plots to get near Napoleon and kill him, but fate decides otherwise.

The production of the film is worth commenting. The sets are lavish all lavishly decorated down to every detail. Even scenes of the rather run down streets are well composed and realistically decorated. Costumes are excellent. Monica Bellucci gives a memorable performance in her argument scene in her bedroom with Martino. I think the plot is more comedy oriented, so the development of the bond between Napoleon and Martino is not strong enough. Otherwise, the film is entertaining to watch.

I bought this movie because Monica Bellucci of course, a Italian Goddess l love her however watching the movie l realize that Monica's character is merely decorative unfortunately, the plot is around the Teacher Martino (Elio Germano) and Napoleon (Daniel Auteuil) when the Tyrant went to island of Elba in exile he needs a person to write your memories even Martino hating Napoleon he accepts the invite to have a chance to kill him, the movie works like a Italian comedy as always with those extravagant characters talking loud in your language is very funny, the casting is amazing, they acting very well on their roles which complete this good picture!!!

I learned a thing: you have to take this film like a funny period comedy, if you don't want to be disappointed. The film's enjoyable because it's a delicious comedy. I think the over-hype damaged it: the too much glorified Monica Bellucci appears in few scenes and isn't so good as they wanted to let you believe. She sounds unnatural, false: the best actress in this film is Sabrina Impacciatore, who speaks with a perfect Tuscan accent and shines together with Massimo Ceccherini. Elio Germano is very, very good: the most promising young Italian actor, according to me. Daniel Auteuil looks like Napoleon, but I preferred other actors. So, the most hyped performances were also the worst.

Costumes and production design are okay: sure, American period movies are more accurate about these things because have bigger budgets, but the Italian ability rewards the lack of money. A nice period comedy, in short, with a first-rate casting (except for Bellucci and Auteuil).

Would you like to know why French and Italians love/hate each others? Would you like to have a glimpse of history that drives our lifetime? So, go to watch Virzi's film (in original language, of course) and you can look at a wonderful Monica Bellucci who finally speaks her native language from Città di Castello (Umbria, just at the border with Tuscany). And the rest of the characters speaking Livornese (lovely Sabrina Impacciatore and all the others). Daniel Auteuil definitely in his shoes with Napoleon. A lot of fun, a real fresco of the Elba Island landscape, and a picture about the political reasons to kill or leave alive a tyrant (good for all times).

The exaggerated way to speak using the native dialect of Tuscany and the characters loaded with an extremely theatrical mood, create a rather silly atmosphere. The actors are beautiful but not always of a good level, and the plot with its main ideas leaves a lot to be desired...