Synopsis
This film covers the last years of the Emperor's life, imprisoned by the British on St Helena, a remote island off the west coast of Africa. Napoleon retains a loyal entourage of officers who help him plot his escape and evade the attentions of the island's overzealous governor, Sir Hudson Lowe.
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Cast
- Philippe TorretonNapoléon Bonaparte
- Richard E. GrantHudson Lowe
- Jay RodanBasil Heathcote
- Elsa ZylbersteinAlbine de Montholon
- Roschdy ZemMarshal Bertrand
- Bruno PutzuluCipriani
- Stéphane FreissGen. Montholon
- Frédéric PierrotGen. Gourgaud
- Siobhan HewlettBetsy Balcombe
- Peter SullivanThomas Reade
Recommendations
- 80
The Hollywood Reporter
With some excellent staging, fine cinematography and first-rate acting, the film largely overcomes the awe it demonstrates for its principal character and succeeds in creating a mystery where perhaps there is none. - 80
The New York Times
If it all adds up to too much for one film to encompass with ease, Monsieur N, is certainly richer than most of what you'll find on the History Channel. - 80
The New Republic
The film holds us principally because of its Napoleon. Philippe Torreton doesn't perform the role: he exists. - 70
Variety
An intricate, fetchingly lensed tale of historical speculation framed as a plausible thriller. - 70
The A.V. Club
De Caunes and screenwriter René Manzor do well when they dwell on history from a mundane human perspective, but Monsieur N. is too dry and too unsurprising for its two-hour running time. - 70
Village Voice
As modest conspiracy-mongering, the movie is perfectly robust, earning its dramatic impact from its classical sense of intrigue and Philippe Torreton's testy performance in the title role. - 70
L.A. Weekly
And though at over two hours the movie is too long and too slow, de Caunes sustains a sense of mystery and ambiguity to the end of what is both a satisfying character study and a stately quasi-thriller for amateur historians. - 60
TV Guide Magazine
Even when the script takes a turn for the chatty, there's always something pretty to look at.
