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List Price: $14.99 | | Label: Miramax
Salesrank: 5610
Released: June 3, 2003 |
| Our Price: $5.97 |
| Used Price: $4.19 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Academy Award(R)-winner Juliette Binoche (Best Supporting Actress, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, 1996) highlights this rousing, passionate adventure! In a world ravaged by revolution and violence, two strangers -- a handsome renegade (Oliver Martinez, UNFAITHFUL) and a beautiful countess (Binoche) -- find their only chance for survival in each other! Together they undertake a perilous cross-country journey where they will also discover unmatched danger, excitement ... and passion! Universally praised by critics and moviegoers, THE HORSEMAN ON THE ROOF is another extraordinary film from the creators of the Academy Award(R)-winning CYRANO DE BERGERAC (Best Costume Design, 1990)!
Description of The Horseman on the Roof:
Olivier Martinez (Unfaithful, The Chambermaid) plays Angelo, an exceptionally gallant, Italian soldier-in-exile hiding out from his Austrian enemies in rural France, where a cholera epidemic is sweeping the countryside. Helped in a tough spot by a countess (Juliette Binoche), Angelo swears his unyielding protection to her as she searches for her missing husband. The nobler virtues hold sway as Martinez suppresses his own deepening love and desire for the lady, an admirable posture that has ironic consequences when the countess herself becomes deathly ill. Jean-Paul Rappeneau, maker of the ornamental but empty Cyrano de Bergerac, directs this adventure-romance to a nice pitch of vitality and high drama. The two leads establish a great chemistry (they became offscreen lovers and parents), like watching a pair of thoroughbreds running in the same race. --Tom Keogh
The Horseman on the Roof Reviews:
Feminist Nightmare 
2009-10-30 - I saw this movie six or so years ago, and I loved it. Now that I'm a bit older (feminist grad student)I watched it again remembering how much I liked it the first time around. Well, things change. I don't think the main female character could leave the main male character for more than five minutes without becoming completely lost/in danger/helpless. It was quite funny, yet pathetic. To add insult to injury I think they were going for a "strong" and "independent" young woman-type in her character. So if this is how they construct a "strong" and "independent" woman...well I'm sure you get my drift.
John du Prey - Classical Review 
2009-06-16 - The words, "I am breathing heavy, not because of the extreme danger we face, but because of you, my Love," seems to define this couche chevaleresque and demand audience involvement with immediate, audacieux consequences. Rugged passion con fuoco, as presented in this historical romance (setting: Aix-de-Provence, France, in 1832), is upon us (from Prologue to Epilogue) in Jean-Paul Rappeneou's epic film Le Hussard sur le Toit (The Horseman on the Roof). Within seconds, the screen is filled brilliant horsemanship, sudden danger from assassins, and two charismatic actors (in flight for their lives).
Unable to resist direct empathy, we can easily leap out of bed, unto a powerful stallion, evade attack at night by swordsmen, before Act I slips her silken covering upon our shoulders. We are never slow to react and defend our heroine (Madame de Theus, played with uncanny resolve by Juliette Binoche; her beauty alone elevates the film). Again, dramatic empathy of a high order prevails because the director's intent is achieved, to maintain sustained tension and danger without any diminuendo (needed); to ascend with the powerful crescendo to the denouement, into the major climax; which can be a true bodyguard experience for a woman viewer when her man does not experience fatigue (no matter what). In order to accomplish this tour de force, the motion picture must be filled to the brim with the unsavory liquor of adventure; in fact, it is consumed with a man's extreme loyalty to his Lady. Chivalry placed at her feet.
Even the reaction of our hero (Angelo Pardi, played with passion by Olivier Martinez) to the point of a sword is sensuously precarious, because he risks everything. Death may corner him, but a knight's chivalry is so within his grasp, he can outride, outfight secret police; leap past assassins (reminiscent of Errol Flynn in his best roles); and as her knight-guardian protect her throughout the day and night. We end the film with unspoken passion. Dramatic intensity remained high-pitched, uncompromising, unto the final words of our heroine. We are, I believe, less inhibited for a time after viewing this film. Our just reward: We are willing to ride a stallion in our dreams, now so affected by this film, its unrelenting action, and its stirring soundtrack.
1800's Rebellion On The Run 
2009-06-13 - This was a very good romantic period piece. The chemistry between Binoche and Martinez leaped from the screen. I found myself rooting for them to kiss, which they never did, even though she was married and he an honorable gentleman. But if romance is the major theme of the movie, it hurts the movie when their is no psychical contact between the two lovers. The narration at the end told us what might happen in the future, from Binoche's character's husband's perspective, but temptation on her part should have been expressed with more than just a look. The antagonist of the movie was the disease that ravaged Italy and France. The story kept me interested, which is no small accomplishment, considering I never buy or keep movies that I have to read the dialogue. I will keep this one. Adventure was a secondary character as we were taken to many locals through chases, hiding and despertion.
To surmise. I like this movie. Martinez was good as the romantic lead, with his stubborn resolve and sense of duty. Binoche was great as the determined wife who has resolved not to give in to her feelings for Martinez , while she searches for her missing husband. Not a new story , but the right actors and good writing can always make this story seem fresh. These are the right actors in a good movie.
The Horseman on the Roof - Gorgeous, Romantic and Exciting
2009-04-07 - The time is 1832, certain Italians are fomenting a revolution against the Austrian Empire for control of the northern part of their country. Some of the revolutionaries have gone into exile in France, where they are pursued by Austrian agents. What starts out as a an an action filled escape from the Austrian agents quickly becomes an effort to escape the cholera pandemic sweeping France. Further complicating matters are angry mobs ready to chase down and lynch strangers whom they suspect of poisoning their water, and avoiding French soldiers who have orders to round up everyone and put them in quarantine. (Quarantine being something you want to avoid at all costs. To be thrown in with the sick and dying is a nearly guaranteed death sentence.)
This is a gorgeous movie with spectacular cinematography of the French countryside, including a breathtaking fairy tale castle near the Alps.
The equally gorgeous cast includes Olivier Martinez as Angelo Pardi, a young Italian colonel, and Juliette Binoche as Pauline de Théus, a French noblewoman. Pardi is a gallant gentleman who would not dream of pressing his affections on the lady whom he is escorting and protecting. The distance he maintains only serves to heighten the romantic aspect of the film. (This is for people who find "Jane Eyre" a far more exciting love story than something like "Pretty Woman".) There is also plenty of action and several exciting chase sequences to keep things lively.
The DVD special features include scene selection, sneak peeks, English subtitles and captioning for the hearing impaired.
In French (and a bit of Italian) with English subtitles.
Recommended
AN ENTHRALLING, ACTION-PACKED, ROMANCE
2009-02-13 - Olivier Martinez shines as a dashing, Italian officer on the run from Austrian death squads sent throughout Europe to kill off resistance leaders. However, this is not his only problem. The year is 1832, and Southern France happens to be in the midst of its worst cholera epidemic in one hundred years. Mobs murder anyone they suspect of contaminating their water. On the run from would be executioners on all sides, our hero drops, fortuitously, from a window into a house inhabited by a beautiful countess. She feeds him stale bread, and tea, he considers himself in her debt, and determines to see her safely to her home- and husband ( and, to say the least, Juliette Binoche was spectacular as the plucky, Countess Pauline De Theus ).
This is one of the great period pieces, and Rappeneau's direction is strong, with a nice attention to details. The cinematography is also excellent. There are more than a few gruesome scenes in the film ( you 'll quickly get the point that cholera isn't pretty... ), but they are never to the point of being gratuitous. And then there is this odd thing that used to be called 'chivalry,' that seems to be one of Angelo's ( Martinez's ) more noticeable quirks, and which helps to make the growing love between the two leads so much more poignant. There is plenty of action, and adventure in this marvelous feature, and the chemistry between Angelo, and Pauline is palpable.
