Horseman on the Roof

France 1995 (subtitles)
95 minutes
Directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Leading players - Oliver Martinez & Juliette Binoche

Synopsis

Juliette Binoche stars in this exhilarating film directed by Jean-Paul Rappeneau, who also directed the much acclaimed 'Cyrano de Bergerac' (1990). Her co-star, the horseman of the title, is played by Oliver Martinez, while Gerard Depardieu makes a fleeting appearance as the commissaire de police.

The story is set in Provence in 1832 when it was decimated by cholera. To try and prevent the disease spreading north, both rich and poor living in infected areas are being driven into quarantine camps and the roads are blocked by soldiers. Panic is in the air. Bribery, deceit, fear and hatred are rife as people try to save themselves from the epidemic.

Meanwhile, young Angelo (Martinez) is being pursued by political enemies out to kill him, and on his travels around the region he meets the beautiful Pauline de Theus (Binoche) who is searching for her husband, lost in the general mayhem. They join forces and eventually fall in love.

The 1951 novel by Jean Giono was a favourite of the then teenaged Rappeneau but it was not until 1992 that he was able to acquire the film rights, Bunuel, Polanski and even Giono himself having previously attempted to adapt the book for the big screen.

The director certainly spared no expense in bringing his vision to celluloid. At a cost of US$35 million, making it France's most expensive movie to date, he demanded amongst other things 4,000 trained birds (including 3,000 carrion crows), 100 different sets throughout Southern France, 1,000 period costumes and approximately 15,000 sq ft of tiles to recreate the roofscape of Manosque, Giono's birthplace. It is a sumptuous epic adventure, full of romance, excitement and beauty, revealing both the best and the worst in mankind.