We really enjoyed this. Barrault and Mastroianni are terrific actors--did an outstanding job. The philosophical questions raised are still worth considering today, as the movie implies, and yet they are raised in an interesting and indirect way, so the viewer doesn't feel bludgeoned or lectured at.
I was interested to discover that the flight to Varennes was in fact historical, though I could not discover whether Restif de Bretonnes (Barrault's character) was actually at the event and commented on first-hand knowledge. He did write extensively about life and events of the time. The interchange of ideas seemed natural, despite the apparent absurdity of finding all of them in the same coach at the same time. Sort of like those "if you could invite 5 historical figures to dinner at the same time" ideas.
Very much worth seeing.
I was interested to discover that the flight to Varennes was in fact historical, though I could not discover whether Restif de Bretonnes (Barrault's character) was actually at the event and commented on first-hand knowledge. He did write extensively about life and events of the time. The interchange of ideas seemed natural, despite the apparent absurdity of finding all of them in the same coach at the same time. Sort of like those "if you could invite 5 historical figures to dinner at the same time" ideas.
Very much worth seeing.