Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Famed swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac is in love with his cousin Roxane. He has never expressed his love for her as he his large nose undermines his self-confidence. Then he finds a way to express his love to her, indirectly.
Rappeneau's 1990 adaptation of Rostand's beloved play is a triumph of French cinema. Gérard Depardieu delivers a towering, career-defining performance as Cyrano, earning an Oscar nomination and Cannes Best Actor. The plot, drawn from one of the most perfectly constructed romantic tragedies in theatrical history, moves with wit, pathos, and elegance. The ending, where Roxane finally understands the truth as Cyrano lies dying, remains heartbreaking and earned. Cinematography is handsome and period-appropriate but not groundbreaking. Novelty scores modestly — the source material is centuries old and widely adapted, though this version is a definitive cinematic realization of it rather than a reinvention.