Why Napoleon Always Has His Fingers In His Ears (& What It Means ...

There are various moments during Napoleon when Joaquin Phoenix's iteration of the title character shields his ears from the noise of the canons, and there's an interesting explanation as to why. Ridley Scott's biopic about the French Emperor took quite a few creative liberties during the movie's production, so it can be difficult to separate the fact from the fiction for non-history buffs. However, while the movie's moments that diverged from or built upon historical records may seem superfluous, Scott still had a story to tell. In addition, Phoenix likely had his own ideas regarding how to embody his character.

Napoleon didn't do amazingly at either the box office or with critics, but the movie also wasn't without those who offered it praise for certain aspects. Phoenix did an admirable job of leading the Napoleon cast, adding nuances to his performance that revealed his interpretation of the French military leader. While there were historical inaccuracies in Napoleon, many were intentional deviations and additions to create a more cohesive story.

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Napoleon's In-Ear Tick Was Made Up For The Movie

There's no evidence the real Napoleon did this

What's most interesting about Joaquin Phoenix's Napoleon sticking his fingers in his ears at the sound of canons is that there's no historical record of the actual Napoleon doing this at all. Therefore, it's likely that the character trait was thought up by either Phoenix himself or by the movie's director, Ridley Scott. While this may show a slight disregard for historical accuracy, it augments Phoenix's portrayal of the film's main character very well.

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Phoenix plays the lead role in Ridley's Napoleon in a way that makes the character seem incredibly petulant and notably immature. Therefore, it's believable that this man-child version of the movie's titular figure would indeed stick his fingers in his ears in reaction to the sound of canons on the battlefield. Warfare is a serious endeavor, and this kind of response certainly feels like the response of a childish leader.

Phoenix Covering His Ears Supports Napoleon's Cowardly Characterization

The acting choice suited this version of Napoleon well

As well as conducting himself in ways that make Joaquin Phoenix's Napoleon come across as much younger than his years, the act of cowering from the sounds of battle also aligns with the cowardice portrayed by the movie's lead actor. The repeated use of the visual gag ends up having an especially comic effect too, making the French commander even more difficult to respect. So, although the fingers-in-ears response would seem to be unique to the Napoleon movie, it was at least thoughtfully considered before being used.

Napoleon

From director Ridley Scott and writer David Scarpa comes Napoleon, a dramatic historical-epic film that follows the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte as he embarks on a lengthy French campaign of conquest. The film also focuses on his relationship with Josephine, his Empress and the love of his life, a relationship that was equal parts romantically intense and self-destructive.

Release Date November 22, 2023

Runtime 158 Minutes