Would Napoleon have ever become Emperor without his Josephine? This two-part documentary series revisits the life of an incredibly modern woman from her childhood spent in the island of Martinique, to her coronation as Empress at age 41, and finally to her death – from a simple cold – ten years later in her palace, Malmaison. We find ourselves retracing her steps in France and Italy and discover a character much more complex and interesting than what has been written about her by previous historians. With the help of historical reenactments, paintings and illustrations, this revealing documentary reconstructs the important moments of her extraordinary life. Having survived a devastating hurricane, a death sentence, firing cannons, a bombing and even a balcony fall, Josephine continues to fascinate millions of people worldwide, not only because she was wife to one of the most well-known characters in history, but also because the life she led – full of drama and grandeur – was greater than any role ever imagined in fiction.
Director: Eric Ellena
Producers: French Connection Films
Year: 2012
Length: 52 minutes x 2 episodes
Languages: English, French
Partners: Le Souvenir Napoléonien, Rueil Malmaison Office of Tourism, The City of Rueil Malmaison, The International Napoleonic Society, CNC, Recommended by Historia
Broadcasters: Histoire (France, Switzerland, Belgium, Africa), France 3 Corse, Vosges Television (France), Rai Storia (Italy), TFO (Canada), Planete (Canada), DR K (Denmark)
English
Français