Tourism Update was treated recently to an exclusive pre-screening of Napoleon, organised by St Helena Tourism, Big Ambitions and Groot Constantia. The film was released globally on November 24.
The spectacle-filled action epic details the rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, played by Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix.
Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary Director, Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte's relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics in some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.
Napoleon’s link to St Helena
Napoleon was exiled to St Helena in 1815 after his defeat at Waterloo. While there, he was supplied with wine from Groot Constantia, the oldest vineyard in the Western Cape, founded in 1685.
Napoleon enjoyed drinking it during his captivity on the remote island, where he died as a prisoner on May 5, 1821 at the age of 51.
Watch St Helena Tourism’s video on what tourism means for the island, which was shown before the film below (credit: St Helena Tourism):
