Provence provides a stunning locale for this romantic adventure. The camera work is exquisite and every opportunity is taken to capture the natural beauty of this region. The story is simple enough. Angelo, an Italian colonel (handsome Olivier Martinez) escapes from Austrian-oppressed Italy to raise funds in the continuing battle against Austria. He finds more than an unsympathetic acceptance in France. Most of the towns through which he rides are beset with cholera. The camera scenes of the dead and dying victims, horse-drawn carts packed high with bodies and funeral pyres are terrifying enough, but it is the fluttering of black wings as crows seek out the eyes of the dying victims that frighten most. Some of the close-ups are pretty grim. In lighter vein I liked the scene where a cat befriends our horseman and he talks to it on the roof about how wars are won with money as much as guns. The cat is a great little actor. The horseman an accomplished swordsman carves his way through many a desperate situation (What hero doesn't?) He acquires a bottle of medicine from a dying stranger who has taught him a massage technique to avert death from cholera. On his way back to Italy with a bag of gold coins, he gives protection to Pauline, a doctor's wife (Juliette Binoche)who is seeking out her missing husband in the cholera-infected area. The young 25-year old colonel who sends almost daily letters to his mother in Italy (they are really a diary of events) behaves as the perfect gentleman at all times, but his protegee is obviously drawn to him. Here is a love story where the lovers admire from a distance never submitting to the chemistry which is drawing them together. When the woman collapses with cholera, all existing barriers are forgotten as he works on her frantically with his acquired knowledge to save her life. One of the great joys of this film is to watch the handsome faces of Martinez and Binoche. Their beauty contrasts sharply with the agonised plight of the villagers and the devilish black crows which hover continuously about the dead, fluttering out through open doors and windows. The ending may not satisfy some, but it leaves us with the thought that somewhere sometime all will be well again.
33 Reviews
Great old-fashioned entertainment
burrobaggy3 April 2005
The Horseman on the Roof has to be one of the most beautiful looking films I've ever seen, which is odd for a movie about a cholera epidemic.
Set in a beautiful summer in the mid-19th century, it follows Olivier Martinez's Italian in exile as he is chased across France by Austrian agents intent on killing as many Italian rebels as they can only for his pursuers to be outrun by a cholera epidemic that picks off friends and foes. Along the way his path crosses with various victims and survivors - a doctor who teaches him a neat disinfecting trick of setting your hands on fire, a cute governess, Jean Yanne's duplicitous peddler, Gerard Depardieu's paranoid mayor, and most importantly Juliette Binoche, who is determined to find her husband. Naturally they become travelling companions as they try to get through roadblocks and avoid being put into quarantine by the soldiers cordoning off the roads - a virtual death sentence - and eventually nearly become more. The film looks so good in cinemascope and so much of it is terrific than you can just about forgive the fact that the ending is a bit of a washout after everything that's gone before.
A really enjoyable old-fashioned epic, I'd definitely pick this up if it ever turned up on DVD uncut with English subtitles (the Miramax disc is typically cut by 17 minutes thanks to Harvey Scissorhands).
Set in a beautiful summer in the mid-19th century, it follows Olivier Martinez's Italian in exile as he is chased across France by Austrian agents intent on killing as many Italian rebels as they can only for his pursuers to be outrun by a cholera epidemic that picks off friends and foes. Along the way his path crosses with various victims and survivors - a doctor who teaches him a neat disinfecting trick of setting your hands on fire, a cute governess, Jean Yanne's duplicitous peddler, Gerard Depardieu's paranoid mayor, and most importantly Juliette Binoche, who is determined to find her husband. Naturally they become travelling companions as they try to get through roadblocks and avoid being put into quarantine by the soldiers cordoning off the roads - a virtual death sentence - and eventually nearly become more. The film looks so good in cinemascope and so much of it is terrific than you can just about forgive the fact that the ending is a bit of a washout after everything that's gone before.
A really enjoyable old-fashioned epic, I'd definitely pick this up if it ever turned up on DVD uncut with English subtitles (the Miramax disc is typically cut by 17 minutes thanks to Harvey Scissorhands).
A ride through Provence
pax-et-forza20 December 2004
Two superstars of the french cinema: adorable Juliette Binoche and hot Olivier Martinez, love and save each other from lost, sickness and death, while horse-riding through the stunningly beautiful Provence. An adaptation of the famous novel by Jean Giono. They are there: on the screen, on their horses, in this magnificent landscape, he tries to become a man, she tries to stay a woman, they are smiling, and soon you'll express the wish of being with them on this screen, to be one of them, maybe both, if this happens, Rappeneau gets to his goal: grace. A great tale about love, renouncement, youth, passion, courage and Honor. A famous novel of the french literature. Patriotism, romanticism, and grace. Rappeneau is the master, Binoche and Martinez are the gifted pupils.
Beautiful French scenery
meliajanssen24 February 2003
This gorgeous movie was set in the cholera stricken period which wiped out the whole of Europe in 10 days. Juliette Binoche, in her pre-The English Patient role, was as gorgeous and subtle as ever. The thing about this movie though that it's billed as a romance but you don't see it anywhere but just hints of it and feel the sexual tensions between the 2 main characters. Rather disappointing for some but it's that exact same formula which makes it such a beautiful movie to watch. To top it off, it was filmed in the French countryside which is so breathtaking that you could just watch the movie for the cinematography alone. All in all, it's a superb movie in the tradition of finely crafted French costume dramas.
Beautiful, but scattered
cscjr820 May 2001
Juliette Binoche and Olivier Martinez look great, and they throw themselves enthusiastically into their roles. They do have a certain chemistry together, but the film devotes much more attention to the effects of the French cholera epidemic in 1832 on the countryside. The plot that kicks off the story rather dramatically is that of the assassination plots against Italian nationalists by Austrians who'd like to take over northern Italy. The end of the movie, however, reveals the true focus of the story. I wish that the majority of the movie was devoted to that story.
Love and a Lot of Death
cengelm26 December 2005
Italian patriot Colonel Angelo Pardi is fleeing his country in 1832. He enters the cholera ridden French Provence. There he meets Pauline who is lovelessly married to rich Marquis de Théus. Together they will look for him. The road movie starts pretty slow and chaotic. More often than once I was confused about what was going on. A lot of swashbuckling, dead people, crows and crows again, some chases. There seemed to be no real plot or focus. Then after about one hour suddenly it got better and delivered what I was expecting. The romance between Juliette Binoche and Olivier Martinez gained momentum and the story got some direction. The ending was a bit melodramatic and lacked credibility but I won't ask for too much.
Both lead actors did a good job. Cinematography was good and benefited from the setup in France's beautiful landscape. There was an improvement to be seen after a rather bad start.
6 / 10
Both lead actors did a good job. Cinematography was good and benefited from the setup in France's beautiful landscape. There was an improvement to be seen after a rather bad start.
6 / 10
Love in the time of cholera
Red-12512 September 2020
Le hussard sur le toit (1995) was shown in the U.S. with the translated title Horseman on the Roof. Jean-Paul Rappeneau was the co-writer and director.
This movie is billed as a swashbuckling romantic drama. That's what it is, except that most of the movie involves people dying from cholera.
Historically, there was a cholera epidemic in 1832. And, yes, one method of helping people with cholera was to rub their skin to "revitalize" them.
Juliette Binoche portrays Pauline de Théus, who blithely ignores the cholera quarantine. (We're supposed to think that's OK, but it isn't.) You won't be surprised that she looks great in period costume.
Olivier Martinez plays Angelo Pardi, and Italian patriot being hunted in France by Austrian assassins. (Don't ask.) If you want your swash buckled, he's your man.
There's some beautiful scenery in the movie, so it would work better on the large screen. We saw it on the small screen, and that worked well enough. The movie has an IMDb rating of 7.1, with which I agreed. I rated it 7.
This movie is billed as a swashbuckling romantic drama. That's what it is, except that most of the movie involves people dying from cholera.
Historically, there was a cholera epidemic in 1832. And, yes, one method of helping people with cholera was to rub their skin to "revitalize" them.
Juliette Binoche portrays Pauline de Théus, who blithely ignores the cholera quarantine. (We're supposed to think that's OK, but it isn't.) You won't be surprised that she looks great in period costume.
Olivier Martinez plays Angelo Pardi, and Italian patriot being hunted in France by Austrian assassins. (Don't ask.) If you want your swash buckled, he's your man.
There's some beautiful scenery in the movie, so it would work better on the large screen. We saw it on the small screen, and that worked well enough. The movie has an IMDb rating of 7.1, with which I agreed. I rated it 7.
Focus is genius.
janusz-226 February 2000
I found this film to be excellent. Though I am a student of history, I really do not know all the details regarding this episode of the freeing of Italy from Austrian authoritarianism. Though interesting, the historical aspect of the movie was not that important to me. It was a highly enjoyable adventure film that could have been placed in lots of different historical times.
Besides being a great adventure film it masterfully dealt with a most wide range of emotions. There were many undertones and harmonics dealing with fear, desperation, horror, escape, passion, love, honor and divine, or natural, justice.
What was so fascinating to me was how the movie showed the power of freedom, courage and focus. The protagonist was raised by his mother (a most curiously powerful presence in this movie even though we never see or hear her)to be independent and freedom loving and this movie shows how strong and almost invincible this makes him because he believes it and lives it with all his heart. All around him the world is literally falling apart and going mad from fear and disease and yet, by neither railing against it nor taking on these thoughts, he triumphs with his will to live and being true to his own vision at all times.
And as an added bonus, the visual artistry of this movie, from the titles all the way to the end is beautiful to behold. The scenery, costumes, sets, actors, camera angles and etc. are all brilliantly satisfying. The movie was a joy to see.
Besides being a great adventure film it masterfully dealt with a most wide range of emotions. There were many undertones and harmonics dealing with fear, desperation, horror, escape, passion, love, honor and divine, or natural, justice.
What was so fascinating to me was how the movie showed the power of freedom, courage and focus. The protagonist was raised by his mother (a most curiously powerful presence in this movie even though we never see or hear her)to be independent and freedom loving and this movie shows how strong and almost invincible this makes him because he believes it and lives it with all his heart. All around him the world is literally falling apart and going mad from fear and disease and yet, by neither railing against it nor taking on these thoughts, he triumphs with his will to live and being true to his own vision at all times.
And as an added bonus, the visual artistry of this movie, from the titles all the way to the end is beautiful to behold. The scenery, costumes, sets, actors, camera angles and etc. are all brilliantly satisfying. The movie was a joy to see.
A stunning romance for realists
honeybeexx20 December 2004
Le Hussard sur le Toit presents its audience with the grim reality of cholera-stricken rural France in 1832 and its effect on a journey of escape by two anxious visitors. The frequent images of corpses and mass burial are refreshed by the breathtaking and beautifully shot scenery, itself brought to life by characters who dilute the presence of death with an oxymoronic mix of comedy and despair. Carrion crows regularly appear, mercilessly flying around in sinister anticipation, their cawing beaks wide open with hunger.
Juliette Binoche enters only in the second half, her laconic period style beautifully portrayed, and preparing the way for her appearance as George Sand in Les Enfants du Siecle (1999). Le Hussard's plot is simple, its screenplay uncomplicated. But the action is fast and Bond-like and the innocence of Martinez' military-dominated character is uncanny. But it is its simplicity that makes this movie a work of exceptional visual satisfaction, for romantics or action-lovers alike.
Juliette Binoche enters only in the second half, her laconic period style beautifully portrayed, and preparing the way for her appearance as George Sand in Les Enfants du Siecle (1999). Le Hussard's plot is simple, its screenplay uncomplicated. But the action is fast and Bond-like and the innocence of Martinez' military-dominated character is uncanny. But it is its simplicity that makes this movie a work of exceptional visual satisfaction, for romantics or action-lovers alike.
A noble effort...
hipcheck6 January 1999
It takes quite an amazing group of people to make a great epic. Aside from great source material, really all the components have to be superb, and it has to be put together in such a way that the viewer is not left wondering what happened to a decade (see: Queen Margot).
Most of the necessary pieces are here, but there is something missing, some element that keeps it from being a truly great film. It is certainly a good one, a movie that is worth seeing, and worth doing so on a big screen, thanks to its beautiful scenery between France and Italy. The stars are very watchable, and the story is tight enough to keep your attention throughout. Unlike many films of its genre, it is not overlong.
Ironically, I found myself comparing it to another Binoche epic, The English Patient, which made me wonder what was lacking in light of what I consider to be a finer film. In the end, it may be simply that the latter had a novel that was more compelling, or a lead (Fiennes) that was just more riveting.
The story is of two people fleeing the outbreak of cholera in early 19th century France. Angelo is attempting to return to his native Italy, to join the revolution, and Pauline is searching for something... They manage to aid each other's flight.
In the great tradition of French period epics, this is not the pinnacle, but it is near the upper echelon. It's worth a shot.
Most of the necessary pieces are here, but there is something missing, some element that keeps it from being a truly great film. It is certainly a good one, a movie that is worth seeing, and worth doing so on a big screen, thanks to its beautiful scenery between France and Italy. The stars are very watchable, and the story is tight enough to keep your attention throughout. Unlike many films of its genre, it is not overlong.
Ironically, I found myself comparing it to another Binoche epic, The English Patient, which made me wonder what was lacking in light of what I consider to be a finer film. In the end, it may be simply that the latter had a novel that was more compelling, or a lead (Fiennes) that was just more riveting.
The story is of two people fleeing the outbreak of cholera in early 19th century France. Angelo is attempting to return to his native Italy, to join the revolution, and Pauline is searching for something... They manage to aid each other's flight.
In the great tradition of French period epics, this is not the pinnacle, but it is near the upper echelon. It's worth a shot.
one of the best French adventure films ever made
dbdumonteil6 April 2002
This film is one of the most expensive films ever made in France but it was worthwhile. Even with such a huge budget, Jean-Paul Rappeneau is controling very well this epic film. Moreover, it shows numerous qualities which proves Rappeneau's confidence towards his film, for example: the beauty of the landscapes, the performance of the two main actors: Olivier Martinez who is very at ease in his role of soldier and Juliette Binoche who is ravishing and brave too, the briskly rhythm of the film itself and the quality of the screenplay which is sometimes ironic .I didn't read the novel by Jean Giono but I suppose that the film is very faithful to the novel. I noticed one thing in this film which is weird: very famous French actors have got only a little role: Gérard Depardieu who performs a policeman, Jean Yanne who is a hawker and François Cluzet who is a doctor. As a conclusion: an epic film which is worth to be seen
Excellent adventure story, entertaining, and emotionally rewarding!
yossarian10019 February 2004
The Horseman on the Roof is one of those rare movies that has everything going for it; breathtaking scenery, fascinating story told in literary style with great attention to detail, stunning main characters with exceptional chemistry and screen presence, and an epic presentation of a great adventure. The central motivation of our young colonel is chivalry and that is so refreshing. Amazing!
excellent adventure
planktonrules27 November 2005
This is a 19th century story that is strongly reminiscent of a "knight in shining armor" story of long, long ago. The handsome hero is both committed to his cause of freeing Italy from Austrian rule AND protecting his lady from all harm--even when she stupidly blunders into it on a couple occasions. From start to finish, this is an excellent historical "chick flick" and is likely to excite the passions of many female viewers, but I am a guy (at least the last time I checked) and I STILL enjoyed it. The acting was excellent and the cinematography outstanding. About the only minor problem with the film was the occasional stupid behaviors by the female lead (Binoche). A couple times, she just seemed too stupid to live--but, of course, the handsome hero came to her rescue.
An excellent film, but a little disturbing due to its graphic depiction of plague victims. Plus, with a little nudity towards the end of the film (it was explicit but not gratuitous), this is NOT a film for the kids.
An excellent film, but a little disturbing due to its graphic depiction of plague victims. Plus, with a little nudity towards the end of the film (it was explicit but not gratuitous), this is NOT a film for the kids.
An Excellent Romantic film
sarahmcm-218 May 2005
I found the film historically poignant in reference to the period of history when the plague ravaged Europe. You feel what people must have felt during that era.
The romance was sensitive and based on harsh realities of the epoch in question. This was in my mind, different and refreshing.
I recommend this movie to the student of history as well as those who would study love and how love grows in a relationship.
I felt the actors were a good pick and stood up well to the task at hand.
A great example of some of the recent French films that have come on the scene lately.
The romance was sensitive and based on harsh realities of the epoch in question. This was in my mind, different and refreshing.
I recommend this movie to the student of history as well as those who would study love and how love grows in a relationship.
I felt the actors were a good pick and stood up well to the task at hand.
A great example of some of the recent French films that have come on the scene lately.
A artfully shot European period adventure film.
=G=31 December 2000
"Horseman on the Roof" is a stylish and romanticized saga of a chivalrous Italian freedom fighter's odyssey with a French gentry wife amid a 19th century southern European cholera epidemic. Though this restrained love story and adventure film deserves high marks on all levels, rich, lush scenic beauty and award winning cinematography are its hallmark.
a voyage into adulthood, set against a sable-black background
myriamlenys11 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
A young Piedmontese officer tries to escape the Austrian secret police. Crossing the border into France, he has two simple ambitions : to escape his pursuers and to reach a town where Italian dissidents have created a small community. Unfortunately, he arrives straight into a cholera epidemic of catastrophic proportions. His ever more chaotic travels and escapes bring him into contact with a large variety of people : the kind, the treacherous, the greedy, the passive, the silly, the brave. His travels will take on the nature of an initiation into the mysteries of love, horror and death...
"Le hussard" offers romance and adventure in the grand manner, set against the background of a general catastrophe. Our protagonist (who is handsome, dashing, gallant and - at times - thunderingly stupid) grows to full manhood by observing and confronting the extremes of goodness and evil of which the human race is capable. The movie must have been made with a giant budget, since the sets, locations and costumes are out of this world. At the risk of sounding like a press release : this is truly a sweeping, immersive epic.
I've never read the book on which the movie is based, but if I were to make a guess I would suppose that the author, Jean Giono, witnessed a great deal of sorrow and injustice in his own life. Many of the scenes have a disquieting ring of truth about them, such as the scene where the protagonist, an innocent man, tries to drink from a water fountain and is accused of being a poisoner and sorcerer. What follows is a near-lynching where screaming villagers, made crazy by ignorance and fear, accuse him of every crime and turpitude under the sun. As one of the characters states, correctly : the cholera may be a terrible disease, but what the name causes in the human breast, that's where the real horror lies...
Very striking : the recurring motif of the black carrion birds such as crows and ravens. One understands where expressions such as "a murder of crows" came from...
"Le hussard" offers romance and adventure in the grand manner, set against the background of a general catastrophe. Our protagonist (who is handsome, dashing, gallant and - at times - thunderingly stupid) grows to full manhood by observing and confronting the extremes of goodness and evil of which the human race is capable. The movie must have been made with a giant budget, since the sets, locations and costumes are out of this world. At the risk of sounding like a press release : this is truly a sweeping, immersive epic.
I've never read the book on which the movie is based, but if I were to make a guess I would suppose that the author, Jean Giono, witnessed a great deal of sorrow and injustice in his own life. Many of the scenes have a disquieting ring of truth about them, such as the scene where the protagonist, an innocent man, tries to drink from a water fountain and is accused of being a poisoner and sorcerer. What follows is a near-lynching where screaming villagers, made crazy by ignorance and fear, accuse him of every crime and turpitude under the sun. As one of the characters states, correctly : the cholera may be a terrible disease, but what the name causes in the human breast, that's where the real horror lies...
Very striking : the recurring motif of the black carrion birds such as crows and ravens. One understands where expressions such as "a murder of crows" came from...
An entertaining romantic melodrama of substance and quality.
nz man31 July 2001
This lavish spectacle includes panoramic mountain views, stunningly beautiful Juliette Binoche, studly handsome Olivier Martinez, energetic sword fights, dashing horses, touching love, feeble attempts of cholera control, aristocratic restraint, flawless acting, and even decent subtitles... ...Now really, what else could one want in a film?!! This is a terrific film, with a refreshing French style (not the usual Hollywood format). Nearly all the IMDB comments below are positive, and this film won (or was nominated for) several awards. Unless you are averse to non-English films, I suggest you run down and rent this video now. It is a gem.
A Delightful Adventure and a Sensitive Romance
claudio_carvalho8 February 2005
In 1832, a frightened France has a serious epidemic of Asiatic cholera, which is killing the population specially in the country, and Italy is invaded and dominated by Austria. In this scenery, Angelo (Oliver Martinez) is a 25 years old refined Italian colonel from a wealthy family exiled in France. He is trying to gather his exiled compatriots and return to Milan to organize the Italian resistance against Austria. Angelo is welcomed by the French noble Pauline (Julliete Binoche) in her house in a difficult moment for him, and Pauline travels together with Angelo, trying to find her missing husband in a chaotic country. Along their journey, Angelo becomes her protector, and they fall in love for each other. "Le Hussard Sur le Toit" is a delightful adventure and a sensitive romance. The story is beautiful and the platonic love and the chemistry between Angelo and Pauline are wonderful. An excellent movie, with a beautiful reconstitution of a dark period of French history and highly recommended for any audience. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "O Cavaleiro do Telhado e a Dama das Sombras" ("The Knight of the Roof and the Lady of the Shadows")
Title (Brazil): "O Cavaleiro do Telhado e a Dama das Sombras" ("The Knight of the Roof and the Lady of the Shadows")
special beauty
Kirpianuscus12 December 2021
After its end, you feel it more than a wise adaptation or a beautiful film. But a lovely embroidery of splendid cinematography, admirable acting and trip in past. A love story, a survive, in same measure, unique demonstration of high care for each detail and a touching confession, real useful in pandemic times, about gentle feelings, cholera and reactions around it and fight for the other. Juliette Binoche and her remarkable portrait of Pauline, Olivier Martinez, reminding, scene by scene, portrait of Gericauld and, off course, the reflection of Jean Giono lines. Result, a special state of soul, more than emotion, close to redefinition, in clear, fragile terms, of world meanings.
A film worth watching!
CapFan1 April 2002
Another excellent job by Juliette Binoche. Set in early 19th century France. An Italian patriot, Olivier Martinez, fled into Aix-en-Provence, France. He is befriended by the Marquess De Theus (Binoche) while trying to get back to Italy during cholera epidemic. Together they make their way across southern France. Excellent story supported by magnificent scenery and superb acting.
Cast A Cold Eye
writers_reign10 July 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Having begun like most directors with small subjects Jean-Paul Rappeneau seems to have acquired a penchant for the crowded canvas given that his last three films - including this one - comprise Cyrano de Bergerac and Bon Voyage. My knowledge of the period - 1830s - is skimpy to say the least so I have no basis for questioning the authenticity or otherwise of the storyline involving both Italian patriots hiding in France and an outbreak of cholera in the Provence region but this is really academic because authentic or not it provides both a dramatic and colourful backdrop to a well-told story in which for once the Romantic element is understated. Olivier Martinez is sufficiently athletic to carry out lots of Errol Flynn-like engagements with a dozen assailants at once and come off incredibly best but he is woefully lacking in Flynn's abundant charm/charisma so it's just as well that leading lady Juliette Binoche has enough for both. Not least of its assets is the support, never more than ten or fifteen minutes in each case, from some of the finest actors in France from Isabelle Huppert to Jean Yanne to Francois Cluzot to Pierre Arditi. A fine film from a fine director.
An artfully shot European period adventure film.
=G=25 December 2000
"Horseman on the Roof" is a stylish and romanticized saga of a chivalrous Italian freedom fighter's odyssey with a French gentry wife amid a 19th century southern European cholera epidemic. Though this restrained love story and adventure film deserves high marks on all levels, rich, lush scenic beauty and award winning cinematography are its hallmark.
A beautiful movie about honor, honesty, and courage.
Zaxx-219 June 1999
This movie is about honor, courage, and honesty.
It is beautiful in many ways, including scenery and the typically French passion for precision of meaning in language.
However, its greatest beauty is its display of honor and how it guides the lives of the protagonists, Angelo and Pauline, and directs the unfolding of the story.
The epilogue suggests that Pauline's husband is also a man of honor.
Such subject matter is particularly appreciated by Americans, who in the past decade have been sickened by widespread dishonor in public officials, journalists, and the intelligensia. When honor, honesty, and courage are openly scorned and ridiculed, and deceit and intimidation are openly accepted, a movie which displays the value, importance, and magnificence of honor, honesty, and integrity, and shows them so beautifully, is thrilling and reassuring.
It is beautiful in many ways, including scenery and the typically French passion for precision of meaning in language.
However, its greatest beauty is its display of honor and how it guides the lives of the protagonists, Angelo and Pauline, and directs the unfolding of the story.
The epilogue suggests that Pauline's husband is also a man of honor.
Such subject matter is particularly appreciated by Americans, who in the past decade have been sickened by widespread dishonor in public officials, journalists, and the intelligensia. When honor, honesty, and courage are openly scorned and ridiculed, and deceit and intimidation are openly accepted, a movie which displays the value, importance, and magnificence of honor, honesty, and integrity, and shows them so beautifully, is thrilling and reassuring.
Tip-toeing through a story
udippel1 October 2023
I feel Jean-Claude Carrière behind the story. It drags on and yet it fascinates. It has a pinch of Bunuel in it. It doesn't show the blood, and not the outwardly world. Despite of the incredible state of affairs, with war, cholera, daily deaths, sufferings, we are taken and follow in a world above the physical misery.
What is displayed is another world; a world of strength, confidence, and most of all, love.
The movie doesn't work on the pictures. It works on what the audience can build up between the individual frames. And we learn to see outstanding individuals, not following the daily reasoning and cheating.
It struck me most, how - and we don't know when it happened - the heroine fell in love, and for the first time after more than one hour into the movie ... smiles! At HIM. And how, I think for the first time after one and a half hour of the running movie, the hero could actually save a person from the cholera with that strange method. Here we see for the first time his feelings for HER. His actions had been clear before; though shrouding his feelings behind convention.
I for one also do love the end. It is not the Hollywoodian kissing sequence, though still open. Never mind the actual outcome. We have seen at least two people living their lives to what they could drag out of these lives; and - most important - remain good and considerate people throughout.
Real role models in our dreadful times of a sorry state of affairs.
What is displayed is another world; a world of strength, confidence, and most of all, love.
The movie doesn't work on the pictures. It works on what the audience can build up between the individual frames. And we learn to see outstanding individuals, not following the daily reasoning and cheating.
It struck me most, how - and we don't know when it happened - the heroine fell in love, and for the first time after more than one hour into the movie ... smiles! At HIM. And how, I think for the first time after one and a half hour of the running movie, the hero could actually save a person from the cholera with that strange method. Here we see for the first time his feelings for HER. His actions had been clear before; though shrouding his feelings behind convention.
I for one also do love the end. It is not the Hollywoodian kissing sequence, though still open. Never mind the actual outcome. We have seen at least two people living their lives to what they could drag out of these lives; and - most important - remain good and considerate people throughout.
Real role models in our dreadful times of a sorry state of affairs.
Masterful drama
martinpersson9719 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This incredible drama, by a stellar director, and featuring some brilliant acting, is definitely a very sharply written award worthy piece.
The actors all do an incredible job, conveying a vast range of emotions and drama superbly indeed. All of this accompined by a stellar script for the ages, very expertly paced, and immensely powerful in every sense of the word.
The cinematography, cutting and editing is exceptional, very beautifully put together indeed, and overall a very beautiful piece in terms of shooting and imagery.
Overall, definitely a very worthwhile and exception achievement, that I would highly recommend for any lover of film indeed!
The actors all do an incredible job, conveying a vast range of emotions and drama superbly indeed. All of this accompined by a stellar script for the ages, very expertly paced, and immensely powerful in every sense of the word.
The cinematography, cutting and editing is exceptional, very beautifully put together indeed, and overall a very beautiful piece in terms of shooting and imagery.
Overall, definitely a very worthwhile and exception achievement, that I would highly recommend for any lover of film indeed!
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