Napoleon

Yves Simoneau directed Napoléon, a four-part miniseries from 2002. It starts from Max Gallo's novel about Napoleon Bonaparte and follows its four-part structure. The series shows Napoleon as a human figure with strengths and weaknesses, at times steered by those around him. It aired in France on France 2 from 7 to 28 October 2002. It was then the most expensive television miniseries in Europe, costing the equivalent of about 46.3 million dollars.

The story follows General Bonaparte, who became consul after the coup of 18 Brumaire, then emperor in 1804, and finally fell and died in exile. Campaigns from Arcole and Egypt to Austerlitz, the retreat from Russia and Waterloo share the screen with his private life, including his marriage to and divorce from Joséphine and his second marriage to Marie Louise. Christian Clavier plays Napoleon, Gérard Depardieu is the police minister Fouché and Isabella Rossellini is Joséphine, with John Malkovich also in the cast.

GMT Productions made it in France, with Transfilm in Canada, A&E in the United States and Spice Factory in the United Kingdom as co-producers. Shooting took place in Hungary, Morocco and elsewhere. Reviews were mixed to positive, with praise for Clavier and the battles. It won the 2003 Emmy for costumes.