Directed by Joe Wright, ‘Cyrano’ is a romantic period musical drama film. It follows the titular French nobleman who is very conscious of his physical appearance and social status. This prevents him from winning the affections of the beautiful Roxanne, who ends up falling in love with another man called Christian de Neuvillette. Even though Cyrano is irrevocably in love with Roxanne, he sadly accepts that he can never be with her. Thus, he decides to help Christian woo her with the help of his brilliant poetic skills.
“Cyrano” is a melancholy tale of love and loss, set against a beautiful backdrop decorated with the poetic nature of heartbreak. The natural performances of the actors and the relatable situation of the protagonist lead the audience to wonder if the film portrays a true story and person. If you’re curious about that too, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive!
Is Cyrano a true story?
Yes, ‘Cyrano’ is partly based on a true story. It is adapted from Erica Schmidt’s 2018 musical of the same name, itself based on “Cyrano de Bergerac”, an 1897 play by Edmond Rostand. It vaguely describes the life and works of Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac, a French novelist, playwright and duelist of the 1600s. He contributed widely to libertine literature and was known for his unconventional ideas.
A majority of Savinien’s life is shrouded in mystery, due to a lack of proper documentation and fact-checking. The majority of what is known authentically about him comes from the preface to his book, “Comical History of the States and Empires of the Moon”, which was published in 1657, nearly two years after his death. The preface was written by his friend Henri Le Bret and detailed Savinien’s childhood and schooling in the countryside, his military career, his injuries and the causes of his death.
Savinien was born around March 6, 1619, in Paris, to Abel I de Cyrano and Espérance Bellanger, both from the nobility. He was educated in the neighboring parish by a country priest, in the paternal lands located in Mauvières and Bergerac. Later he moved to Paris where he apparently studied at the Collège de Dormans-Beauvais under the master Jean Grangier. From the start, he had a thirst for knowledge and an unconventional character, thanks to which he met the Libertines.
At the age of nineteen, Savinien joined a body of guards, where he gained notoriety as an avid duelist. From 1639 to 1640, he served in the army and fought at the siege of Arras the last year. During the siege he suffered a sword wound to his neck by the Spanish army and eventually retired from the army. He then went to Paris to pursue literary studies. He was often linked to the poet and musician Charles Coypeau d’Assoucy, and they were said to be in a romantic relationship, according to the book “Cyrano: The Life and Legend of Cyrano de Bergerac”. However, in 1653 they became rivals and wrote a series of satirical texts against each other.
Savinien worked with several intellectuals like Théophile de Viau and Pierre Gassendi and went on to write several plays and literary and political plays in the classical Orthodox mode. His most notable works include “Le Pédant Joué” (1654) and the novels “Comic History of the States and Empires of the Moon” (1657) and “The States and Empires of the Sun” (1662), both published posthumously. after his death. The latter two are considered classics in the modern science fiction genres, blending elements of romance and science that inspired several legendary writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Voltaire.
Savinien died at the age of 36 on July 28, 1655 in Sannois, sparking several theories surrounding his untimely demise. While Rostand’s play depicts that he died of an injury resulting from a fallen wooden beam at his patron Duc D’Arpajon, academic Madeleine Alcover discovered a text which states that he died after having was injured in an attack on the Duke’s car. However, crucial evidence points to the actual cause of death being a failed assassination attempt as well as health complications from being locked up in an asylum by his enemies and his own brother.
Although there are still many gaps to be filled in the information on Savinien’s life, he is undoubtedly considered an emblematic figure in the world of literature and history, with several essays, research theses, books and films made about him and his works. . The 1897 play “Cyrano de Bergerac” is perhaps the most famous fictional depiction of his life, but it draws on a few real-life aspects.
The female protagonist Roxane in the play is loosely based on Savinien’s cousin who lived with her sister Catherine. In addition, she married a man named Baron Christian de Neuvillette, who fought alongside her in the army. Although the romantic aspect of the relationship between Cyrano and Roxanne in the play is pure fiction.
Additionally, as the play shows, Savinien was quite aware of his real-life appearance, most notably his large nose which has become a common thread in all adaptations of the play. However, when director Joe Wright saw Erica Schmidt’s musical, he was surprised to see Cyrano shown without a weird nose. Thus, he bonded with the concept and decided to make the film based on the musical.
In an interview, Wright elaborated on the same and shared that although he knew Cyrano’s story from his teenage years, he was amazed to see Haley Bennet and Peter Dinklage in the stage production and therefore cast them in the movie as well. movie. Thus, he bonded with the concept and decided to make the film based on the musical. In an interview, he elaborated on the same and shared that although he has known Cyrano’s story since he was a teenager, he was amazed to see the new perspective that Peter Dinklage and Haley Bennet brought to the stage.
Through Savinien’s nostalgia for Roxanne and his lack of confidence in her appearance and social status, ‘Cyrano’ also explores the fragility of human perception as well as people’s modern insecurities due to constant scrutiny of their appearance and of their property. Even though it’s set in a different time period, it reflects the timeless themes of grief and rejection. To conclude, this is a heartfelt fictional account of the ideologies of a historical genius, brought to life by the talented cast and crew.
Read more: Best period dramas on Amazon Prime
