The Hostage of Europe

The film tells the story of the last years of Napoleon Bonaparte’s life in exile. On the remote island of Saint Helena, following his defeat at Waterloo, the former emperor of France still tries to play the role of a great statesman. Although imprisoned by the British, he refuses to accept the English governor, criticizes his captors, and plans a possible escape. His pride and ambitions prevent him from accepting the role of an ordinary prisoner. The film depicts how Napoleon, once ruler of all Europe, battles a sense of humiliation, contemplating every possibility of returning to power, even as he grows increasingly aware each day that his time has passed. It is a story of unwavering will, pride, but also of the tragic realization that his political power has ended for good, and that he himself has become a prisoner of history.