Monsieur N. (2003) - film review

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…

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.

© James Travers 2007

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