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THE REVIEW
Elio Germano, armed with a rifle, meets Paolo Ruffini. He doesn't kill him.
This is the main flaw of this historical comedy by Paolo Virzì: "N - io e Napoleone" (N - Napoleon and I).
Elba Island, 1814: Martino Paolucci is a writer with democratic and libertine ideas, thus he is stripped of his position as a teacher. A modern Ortis, he is the lover of a baroness (Monica Bellucci) older than him but beautiful, and he wishes to kill the tyrant Napoleon who is arriving on the island, rather than committing suicide like Jacopo.
Until Napoleon (Daniel Auteuil) actually arrives. The citizens welcome him with great pomp, and Martino is hired as his librarian and personal secretary.
And he is an extremely fascinating character, you can't just hate him.
Will Martino be able to kill the tyrant?
This is the initial situation of a story that Virzì enjoys narrating with the rhythms of a comedy and fills with various caricatures of 19th-century Tuscany: the grumpy spinster sister, her admirer, the maid secretly in love with the protagonist...
This story, told through straightforward and "Tuscan" dialogues, sprinkled with insults and witty remarks, ultimately makes for an intelligent and enjoyable comedy.
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Summary by Bot
Paolo Virzì’s film 'N - Io e Napoleone' blends historical storytelling with sharp comedy, centered on Martino Paolucci, a writer facing Napoleon's arrival on Elba. The film offers witty, Tuscan-flavored dialogue and colorful characters, creating an intelligent and entertaining experience. Despite a slight flaw in the plot's initial premise, the movie’s humor and performances shine.
Paolo Virzì
Paolo Virzì is an Italian film director and screenwriter from Livorno, known for humane, socially attuned comedy-dramas. He debuted with La bella vita (1994) and gained wide acclaim with Ovosodo, Il capitale umano, La pazza gioia, and the English-language Ella & John.10 Reviews
