Austerlitz
France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Liechtenstein , 1966

Directed by: Abel Gance
Script: Abel Gance, Nelly Kaplan, Roger Richebé
Producer: Alexander Salkind
Production company: CIPRA, Lyre Films, Galatea Film, Michael Arthur Films, Dubrava Film
Cinematography: Henri Alekan, Robert Juillard
Editing: Leonide Azar, Yvonne Martin
Music: Jean Ledrut
Cast: Pierre Mondy, Rossano Brazzi, Claudia Cardinale, Vittorio De Sica,Martine Carol – Josephine, Jean Marais

Format: boja, color, video
Running time: 166'

Synopsis
In what must be the longest lapse of time between a film and its sequel, 70-year-old Abel Gance continues his nearly legendary, 1927 historical drama Napoleon with this tale of Napoleon's life after his victories in Italy. The first half of Austerlitz delves into the private life of Napoleon Bonaparte (Pierre Mondy), the prodigal son of Corsica. The supreme commander of the French armed forces goes about his family life and dallies with Josephine (Martine Carol) and mistress Mlle. de Vaudey (Leslie Caron). He occasionally displays bursts of temper that presage some of the macho violence of the battle scenes in the second half of the film, after Napoleon has proclaimed himself Emperor.

Directors Biography
Abel Gance, born 1889 in Paris, died 1981 in Paris, is French film director and screenwriter. He worked in the cinema from 1909, finally winning acclaim with Mater dolorosa (1917) and Tenth Symphony (1918). His J'accuse (1918) and The Wheel (1923) were hailed as masterpieces. He devoted four years to his greatest film, Napoléon (1927). Gance's later films, largely controlled by the studios, gave inadequate scope for his creative genius.

Location and screening schedule: BUG cinema &TD, Thursday, October 23rd at 23.00