LA NUIT DE VARENNES

France/Italy, 1982, 134 minutes, Colour.
Jean Louis Barrault, Marcello Mastroianni, Hana Schygulla, Harvey Keitel, Jean Claude Brialy, Andrea Ferreol, Laura Betti, Pierre Malet, Daniel Gelin.
Directed by Ettore Scola.

This film is considered a masterpiece by Ettore Scola, a prolific writer for films in Italy and France from 1952 to 2003 (eighty-seven credits). He began directing films in 1964 and made such striking films as Passione d'Amore, Le Bal and We All Loved Each Other So Much.

The film is based on a historical episode, though the situation of the film itself is highly stylised and contrived. On the night that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and their children tried to escape from Paris but were arrested in Varennes, the film has a group of 18th century characters in a stagecoach, travelling together to Varennes, discussing the issues of the French Revolution, liberty, aristocracy, the New World. They include Marcello Mastroianni as Casanova, Harvey Keitel is the American Thomas Payne. Hana Schygulla portrays an aristocratic countess.

The film is literate in its dialogue, strong in its characterisations, offering audiences plenty to reflect on as well as issues to think about.

1.Acclaim for the film? Its historical perspective? Insights? Relevance to contemporary politics and times?

2.Immersing the audience in the 18th century: Paris, the city streets, shops, the palace? The countryside, the roads and the coaches? The inns? The town of Varennes? The night sequences? An experience of the period? The range of the musical score?

3.The structure of the coach journey, the stagecoach, the experience of the passengers, the pursuit, the time span?

4.The structure of the film and the interweaving of the various stories? The novelist, Thomas Payne, the countess, Casanova, the staffs? The student? The revolutionary? The parallel with the travel and journey of the king and queen? The tension and its resolution? And the death of the king and queen?

5.The novelist, Jean- Louis Barrault and his reputation? His skill as an author, observation? Repute, publishing? The sexual preoccupation? The daughter and his passion? The prostitutes? His novels? The love of gossip? Involvement in the palace? Curiosity? His rash behaviour, the ticket, the horse? An interesting character, how sympathetic, antipathetic? His foibles?

6.The novelist as being the central character, in himself, his views, behaviour, the rake? His interactions with the other passengers, the discussions with Casanova, sharing with him? The enjoyment? The issues of past affairs, paternity? His attitude towards royalty? The discussions with Thomas Payne, the issues of liberty, the Americas? The night in Varennes?

7.His final observations, the film moving into the 20th century? The perspectives of prophecy?

8.The night at Varennes itself? The French Revolution, the aftermath of the initial uprising? The feelings against the aristocracy, against the monarchy? The attitude of the people, especially in Varennes? The role of the government, the church? The issues of equality, fraternity? The escape of the king and queen? The military? Lafayette? The reaction of the crowds, the arrest, the lack of sympathy for Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette? The moving into the 20th century – and the helicopters?

9.The king and queen in themselves, sympathy for them, their escape, the prudence of the escape or not? The chase, the plans? The arrests, the reactions? Their being symbols of the revolution?

10.Harvey Keitel as Thomas Payne? The American, the English background, his political theory? The American War of Independence, the Constitution? His involvement? Observing France, judging it?

11.Marcello Mastroianni as the older Casanova? Casanova’s reputation, founded in reality or not? His age – and his reference to his fame after his death? His appearance, in the carriage? His charm, attitude towards the ladies – yet resistance? The meals? His escape from Germany, the discussions? His interest in the novelist? The dresser and his sexual orientation – and Casanova’s kiss and comment? His helping, the talk, the discussions about the monarchy? The discussions about Don Giovanni? The portrait of Casanova?

12.The countess, her personality, the haste to leave, her Austrian background and the connection with Marie Antoinette? Her dresser, her African servant? Her anxiety? Charm, listening, regrets? Interactions with Casanova? The comments on the aristocracy? The attack, the slap, the apology? Too late – regrets?

13.The black servant, presence in France in the 18th century, her work? On top of the coach? Interacting with Emile, his ideas? The kiss? The people in the field?

14.The opera singer, her Italian pomposity, foibles? Her husband? Mistress? The judge and his wife? Offended by the novelist’s stories?

15.The widow, her presence, her being in mourning, her wealth? The interactions with Casanova?

16.The businessman, his presence in the coach, the effect of the revolution on him, his contribution to the discussions? His observing?

17.The dresser, his sexual orientation, his manner, with Casanova? The final irony of the countess and the dresser putting the clothes on the wooden dummy and reverencing it? A symbol of the ineffectualness of the king?

18.The journey itself, difficult, the meals, the inns, refreshing themselves, the tensions, the places to sit, walking, the discussions?

19.How well did the film raise a number of viewpoints and interactions? A symbolic night, the 18th century – and with the French Revolution and the execution of the king and queen, the end of an era?