Désirée

Year: 1954

Runtime: 110 mins

Language: English

Director: Henry Koster

RomanceDrama

In 1794 Marseille, millinery clerk Désirée Clary becomes infatuated with Napoleon Bonaparte, but marries his aide, General Jean‑Baptiste Berandotte, who later joins the forces that topple the emperor. Meanwhile, worldly courtesan Josephine Beauharnais marries Napoleon, becomes Empress of France, and is cast aside when she cannot produce an heir.

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Timeline & Setting – Désirée (1954)

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Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:47

Main Characters – Désirée (1954)

Meet the key characters of Désirée (1954), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:47

Major Themes – Désirée (1954)

Explore the central themes of Désirée (1954), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:47

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Bittersweet Historical Romances like Désirée

Sweeping love stories where personal destinies are shaped by the tides of history.For viewers who enjoyed the grand, romantic melancholy of Désirée, this collection features movies like it that weave intimate love stories into the fabric of history, exploring themes of destiny and sacrifice in lavish, emotionally resonant dramas.

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Narrative Summary

These stories typically follow passionate relationships that ignite during turbulent historical periods. The central romance is deeply intertwined with political ambition or social upheaval, leading to a narrative arc where love is often sacrificed for power or duty, resulting in a reflective, bittersweet conclusion.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core focus on the interplay between epic historical scale and intimate romantic longing. They balance grand production values with a melancholic, reflective tone, creating a specific vibe of romantic grandeur touched by loss.

Movies about the Personal Cost of Ambition like Désirée

Stories where the relentless pursuit of power leaves a trail of personal wreckage.If you liked Désirée's exploration of how Napoleon's ambition affected his personal life, these similar films focus on the emotional consequences of power, featuring characters who achieve greatness but lose love and connection along the way.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist's rise to prominence, paralleled by the deterioration of their intimate bonds. The central conflict is between public achievement and private fulfillment, often culminating in a lonely victory where the protagonist reflects on the love and humanity sacrificed for their goals.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared thematic exploration of ambition's duality—the glamour of success contrasted with the intimate costs. They feature a steady, character-driven pace and a consistently bittersweet or melancholic tone that questions the true price of power.

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Désirée Summary

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Désirée Timeline

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Désirée Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Désirée

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Discover movies like Désirée that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.