base on robert louis stevenson st. ives and the film tell the story of a dashing young french hussar captain ( jean marc barr ) during the napoleonic war . capture in battle he be send to a prisoner of war camp in the scottish highland and run by major farquhar ( richard e grant ) in short order he fall in love with a local girl ( anna friel ) and strike up a friendship with the major and and discovers that his long lose grandfather and who flee from france during the revolution and live just up the road . spirited performance from all the cast and some memorable line make this an above average offering .