Monsieur N.
2003 History / Drama
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Credits
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Summary
From 1815, soon after his defeat at Waterloo, to his death in 1821, Napoleon lives out
his exile on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic. Fearing that Bonaparte’s
supporters may attempt a rescue, the island’s governor Hudson Lowe insists on having a
large contingent of British soldiers. His aide-de-camp Basil Heathcote is instructed
to keep a daily watch on the esteemed prisoner. What Heathcote glimpses are snatches
of Napoleon’s romantic liaisons and hints of political intrigue. Years later, he
is convinced that things were not quite what they seemed. Napoleon didn’t die on
Saint Helena…
Review
Antoine de Caunes’ directorial début (Les Morsures
de l’aube) was not what can legitimately be described a great success, so it came
as an immense surprise when his second film, a big budget historical mystery drama about
the last few years of Napoleon Bonaparte, was unleashed. Despite some rather
obvious flaws (such as an over-reliance on voiceover and a needlessly confusing narrative
construction), Monsieur N is actually rather
a good film, with an impressive production design that is in the classical tradition of
the French historical drama (the photography and lighting are of a very high calibre).
If you can overlook Richard E. Grant’s excessive eye-rolling and comical grimaces, the
acting is also pretty good, with a particularly memorable portrayal of a humbled Napoleon
from Philippe Torreton. The film perhaps takes itself a little too seriously, giving
too much credence to theories about the fate of Napoleon that are at best wilful speculation.
For all that, Antoine de Caunes’ second stint in the director’s chair has paid off and
certainly raises hopes for his next film. Monsieur
N is an absorbing work, beautifully presented and offering some intriguing insights
into the last few years of the most important figure in French history.
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