Abel Gance et son Napoléon

This documentary explores the production of *Napoleon*, the 235-minute silent epic directed, written, and starring French filmmaker Abel Gance. The film highlights Gance's innovative cinematography, his use of multiple-image techniques such as split-screen, and his skill in managing large-scale action sequences. These aspects are examined through the work of Nelly Kaplan, Gance's later assistant. While Gance filmed *Napoleon* from 1925 to 1926, he and his crew were also being documented for a film titled *Autour de Napoleon*. The only surviving reels from that project are featured in this documentary, along with footage of Gance's distinctive "triptychs"—three scenes displayed side-by-side across a wide screen to create a panoramic or multi-narrative effect. Nelly Kaplan compiled the documentary using archival material, including footage of Gance filming the iconic snowball fight at the Brienne military school, still photographs, and excerpts from Gance's production diaries.