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History | Movies
Napoleon Bonaparte Sucked, and ‘Napoleon (2023)’ Shows Us Why
Napoleon has been represented in art before, from the neoclassical ‘Napoleon Crossing the Alps’ painting by Jacques-Louis David to being referenced in ‘Minions’ as a figure of great importance. He is the modern Alexander the Great, a conqueror and strategist. A man who was able to take control of a country after the greatest revolution in history brought it to its knees.
Ridley Scott’s 2023 film on Napoleon begins with the image of a country in chaos. We begin with Marie Antoinette being chased by the revolutionaries, surrounded by her children and afraid, before cutting to a crowd in a square.
In the center of the crowd is the guillotine, already rusting with the blood of the royals. The crowd spit on her and insult her, as she walks with her head held up high. They walk her up to the guillotine, and the queen herself is forced to her knees before the violence of the people. The blade comes down, severing her life from its strands and severing France from her control.
In the crowd a man watches. He is solemn, silent and expressionless, and yet with an air of superiority, as if he is somehow above the masses, better than them in some way. It is important that the film begins this way because it spends the rest of its 150 minute runtime…
