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Film about Napoleon in Malta to premiere tomorrow

Film about Napoleon in Malta to premiere tomorrow

A documentary-drama movie about Napoleon Bonaparte’s relation with the Maltese Islands is set to premiere tomorrow at the Mediterranean film festival called Arte Mare, which is being held on the island of Corsica.

The film, which was partly shot in Malta two years ago, will be projected at Le Regent Cinema and is called Islander at Heart, or in French, Insulaire dans l’ âme.

Napoleon was born in 1796 in the capital of Corsica, Ajaccio. He was a French military and political leader, who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. He was, in fact, the de facto leader of the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804.

In June 1798, Bonaparte reached Malta, as he was en route to Egypt. The islands were, at the time, controlled by the Knights Hospitaller and following the surrender of Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, Napoleon captured the important naval base, with the loss of just three men. Eventually, he was assigned to the Italian island of Elba in 1814, before eventually succumbing to an early death on the island of St Helena in 1821, at the age of 52.

The film crew travelled to these territories and used the islands as platforms for studying philosophical, geographical and psychoanalytical aspects of this big personality, away from the general’s military career.

Islander at Heart marks 200 years from Bonaparte’s death and includes enactments featuring a young Napoleon, as well as analytical contributions by historians.

What is the Arte Mare film festival?

The Arte Mare film festival is held on an annual basis in October in the city of Bastia. For the last 37 years, the festival has welcomed a number of prestigious Mediterranean movies, as well as actors, producers, directors and screenwriters. It awards honours in several categories, including the Ulysses Prize for overall achievement.

Are you excited to watch Islander at Heart?

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