Casanova (2005 film)

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Casanova film.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Lasse Hallström
Produced by Betsy Beers
Mark Gordon
Written by Michael Cristofer
Jeffrey Hatcher
Music by Alexandre Desplat
Cinematography Oliver Stapleton
Edited by Andrew Mondshein
Touchstone Pictures
Distributed by Buena Vista Pictures
Release date(s)
  • September 3, 2005 (2005-09-03) (VFF)
  • December 25, 2005 (2005-12-25) (United States)
Running time 112 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $37,691,644



A young woman tearfully leaves her son (Eugene Simon) to live with his grandmother and promises to return for him someday. Several years later, in 1753, in Venice, Casanova (Heath Ledger), is notorious for his promiscuity with women, his adventures being represented in puppet theatres around the city. The Doge, the ruler of the city, is sympathetic to Casanova, but can't be too lenient on him as to avoid trouble with the church. He warns Casanova that he must soon marry or he will be exiled from the city.[1]

Casanova is falling in love with Francesca (Sienna Miller), who writes illegal feminist books under the name of a man, Bernardo Guardi, and argues for women's rights as Dr. Giordano de Padua. Her mother (Lena Olin) pushes her to marry Paprizzio (Oliver Platt), a rich man from Genoa whom she has never seen. When Paprizzio arrives in Venice, Casanova lies to him and says that the hotel he booked is closed and he persuades him to stay at his house. Casanova also lies and says that his nom de plume is Bernardo Guardi. While Paprizzio, preparing to visit Francesca, stays at Casanova's house, Casanova visits Francesca, pretending to be Paprizzio.

Piazza San Marco, Francesco Guardi, 18th century.

During the Venetian Carnival, Casanova confesses his true identity to Francesca, which makes her angry. Casanova is arrested by the Venetian Inquisition for crimes against sexual morality, such as debauchery, heresy, and fornication with a novice. He saves Francesca by pretending to be Bernardo Guardi, which impresses her very much. At his trial, Francesca reveals that it is in fact she who is Bernardo Guardi, and both are sentenced to death.

Just as Casanova and Francesca are about to be hanged in the Piazza San Marco, they are saved by an announcement that the Pope gave amnesty to all prisoners who were to be executed on that day, as it was the Pope's birthday. It is later discovered that the "Cardinal" who gave the announcement was actually an impostor who happens to be Casanova's stepfather, wedded to his long-lost mother who came back for him just as she promised when Casanova was a child.

As they all escape on Paprizzio's boat, Francesca's brother, Giovanni (Charlie Cox), stays behind to continue Casanova's legendary womanizing.



Filming began on July 9, 2004, and the finished film was released in the United States on September 3, 2005. Visual effects for the film were produced by Custom Film Effects and Illusion Arts. Period costumes were supplied by four different Italian costume houses: Tirelli Costumi, Nicolao Atelier, Costumi d'Arte, and G.P. 11, and shoes were manufactured by L.C.P. di Pompei. Wardrobe was also rented from Sastreria Cornejo of Spain.

Despite being set in Venice, some scenes were filmed in Vicenza, particularly the Teatro Olimpico, the Renaissance theater known for its intricate forced perspective stage design.


Concerto Grosso in D Minor, Op 3 No 11 (Vivaldi)

Concerto for Mandolin in C Major (Vivaldi)

Concerto No. 1 in C Major (Paisiello)

Concerto in B Flat (Durante)


Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 44% based on reviews from 131 critics.[2]


  1. ^ The actual Doge at the time when the plot takes place was Francesco Loredan.
  2. ^

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