FilmCriticLalitRao History is not everybody's cup of tea as most people consider it as a boring subject wherein one is forced to remember various dates and exploits of political parties and royal families. However,there are ways to make history appear more approachable. Italian director Ettore Scola has been able to get a lot of success in this domain by directing 'La Nuit De Varennes' which is not only historical but also an important road movie.It can easily be christened 'a historical road movie'. By blending facts and fiction director Ettore Scola has created a powerful film about the significance of the French revolution with a major focus on the escape of French royal family from Paris until Varennes.There are no dull moments in this film which clocks roughly 150 minutes as the presence of legendary figures Casanova and Restif De La Bretonne in a stagecoach is enough to kindle audiences' interest.The audiences learn that till the last minute there was immense amount of sympathy for the monarchy. Scola shows that there were people who would support the king at all times.The film is not a real history lesson but loses no time in establishing that French king's supporters had failed to realize that the king had completely lost poor people's sympathies.

Henryk von Babenberg I watched this film years ago shortly after it was released and being a movie-buff, enjoyed it greatly.Now, finally the film has been released in its entire length on DVD and blu-ray in France (some 25 mins. were cut for the VHS release for some reason) and I jumped at the possibility of watching this rare masterpiece again.I was not disappointed in ANY way. Although the story line is largely fictional, it does center round a real incident, namely the attempted escape of the French royal family in July 1791 and although we never actually SEE the royals, apart from a short glimpse of their feet, the whole story revolves around them and the French revolution.Onboard a stagecoach which is following the same route between Paris and the northern borders of France, we find an illustrious assembly of people, among them an Austrian countess and lady-in-waiting to the Queen (Hanna Schygulla), a philosopher/writer (Jean-Louis Barrault), an American freedom fighter, Thomas Paine (Harvey Keitel), and bordering at a later hour, the ageing Casanova, (Marcello Mastroianni). Last but not least, a widow on her way home to her estate (Andrea Ferreol), a judge, and an opera singer (Laura Betti).Along the hot and dusty way they argue about and discuss the French revolution and each and everyone present their opinion on "the new world" (as the film is originally titled in Italian), i.e. the new France after the revolution.Mastroianni who plays the role of the old, half-blind Casanova, is nothing short of fantastic. Along the way, in turn each of the women, even the Countess's hairdresser (Jean-Claude Brialy) as well, proposition him and offer him their hearts and towards the end you, the viewer, are totally and utterly prepared to do the same - he is simply stunning, seldom have I seen a more dignified and charming performance.Towards the end they catch up with the royal coach which has been stopped at Varennes by "the people" and so the film ends.If you do not want to watch this for the partly political content, at least watch it for the wonderful, dignified, elegant performances by everyone and enjoy a film dialogue which has seldom been so wittily and intelligently presented as it is here, lines delivered by superb actors and actresses, thoroughly enjoying themselves throughout. Please also refer to the glowering review below by Asa_Nisi_Masa2 from 2005, which whom I fully agree, a truly remarkable film.9* out of 10 - I will be sure to watch it again and again !

wordbug A wonderful, literate film for adults which plays with history, and the idea of power and its trappings. It imagines what would happen if contemporary celebrities at the time of The French Revolution found themselves together in a coach following the fugitive king. In fact, it's a road movie, but unlike any other one you've seen. Witty dialogue, great performances and top-notch production values make this a classic--one of those movies that you can't see could be improved, because everything is so right. If you enjoyed 'Ridicule', you'll enjoy this. I can't recommend it highly enough, and I only wish I could find a copy on DVD.

Asa_Nisi_Masa2 Besides boasting wonderful performances by two of my favourite actors (Marcello Mastroianni and Harvey Keitel), Il Mondo Nuovo (as it's known in Italy) by acclaimed Italian director Ettore Scola is to me as satisfying as a good classic novel, one of those 800-page tomes you approach with a little trepidation and then remember for years to come, wishing other novels you read would compare. It's the year 1791 and on board a stagecoach, an assortment of characters from different parts of the world are traveling from Paris to Verdun. Along the way the coach picks up the aging (his character is 67 years old in the film), legendary Venetian seducer Giacomo Casanova, as well as the controversial, fawn-like but ahead-of-his-time chronicler and novelist, Restif de la Bretonne. The stagecoach's original travelers include the American Revolution survivor Thomas Paine (Keitel), as well as a melancholic and reserved widow aching to fall in love again, a beautiful and intelligent yet devoutly Monarchist Austrian Countess, a sharp and cheeky Italian opera singer eternally clutching a pet poodle and poking fun at her dim and bigoted husband, as well as a cocky young Jacobean. The coach also includes their servants, among whom the young Countess's devoted butler and her pretty African maid, who soon hooks up with the young Jacobean. Not far ahead of them, another stagecoach carrying the fleeing French royal family - Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and their children is also traveling along the same road, unaware this will be the route to their irrevocable death sentence. The story is told through the dialogues and anecdotes of a group unaware of their status as main witnesses to what will turn out to be one of history's most pivotal moments. Besides the breathtakingly authentic feel of the time - you really feel like you've stepped into a Hogarth painting - what's most remarkable is how you also get the sense such historic events are happening in real time, so convincing are the reactions of bewilderment and astonishment on the character's part. A series of vignettes, made delicious by the top-class characterisation and dialogue, contribute to moving the plot along as well as giving the viewer some light relief which however never loses sight of the breathless atmosphere of those revolutionary times. Mastroianni as the self-deprecating, tired, aging Casanova is a treat from the very first frame he graces to the last. This legendary actor has always brought a unique depth of humanity to his roles, but despite all the other fine actors and characters in this film I just couldn't have imagined it without him. I adored the moment, after having charmed all the ladies and even some of the men on the stagecoach, Casanova kisses the young Austrian Countess's besotted gay butler on the lips and as a parting shot says: "I don't exclude anything on principle." Especially memorable are the final frames of the film, in which the young Austrian Countess and her butler, after having dressed a wooden dummy in a spartan inn room with the doomed king's ceremonial costume, bow down to it with devotion, symbolising the ephemeral and temporal nature of an earthly kingdom. Some will consider this Italo-French production overlong, others won't be fond of its un-Hollywoodlike approach to the historic genre, others will even consider some of its characters unappealing. On my part I consider these the film's strengths and cannot help but warmly recommending it. My only real complaint is: why hasn't it yet been released on DVD?