On the afternoon of December 12, 2023, after school, we gathered at the Kultik Cinema in Kaposvár. A few weeks ago, we decided together to watch the movie “Napoleon”. The film falls into the historical, biographical, and war categories. We were curious to see how much detail from what we learned about Napoleon, one of the most famous and frequently mentioned military leaders in history, would be depicted in the film. The movie begins with the French Revolution, and after the battle of Toulon, Napoleon was promoted from an artillery officer to a brigade general. We were introduced to his love, Joséphine, who later became his wife and was an important person in his life. Throughout history, Napoleon fought several battles, and with few exceptions, he emerged victorious from each one. Through a few battle scenes and his struggles with his love, we followed his path to gaining political dominance, eventually crowning himself emperor. Personally, I felt a sense of lack as several significant battles that were decisive in his life did not feature in the film, or the director quickly glossed over them. We learned very little about his political activities. His love life seemed to be emphasized more, and we didn’t get to know him necessarily through his military successes. However, the visual world of the film was captivating; the sets, costumes, objects, and buildings reflected what we think of the French era of the 18-19th centuries. The historical plotlines, through alliances, betrayals, and steps taken for victory and control, were all conveyed on screen. The film completely conveyed what was most important in Napoleon’s life: France, the army, and Joséphine. Thank you very much for the opportunity to watch the film.
Milán Vajda, Nagybajom Group 2