He was the legendary adventurer whose amorous dalliances would go on to inspire countless lovers throughout the centuries. She was the most virtuoso writer of her time who was waiting to find that rare man with a true understanding of steadfastness and passion. When Giacomo Casanova discovered Francesca Bruni, he met his ultimate romantic match, succumbing to the only woman ever to refuse his charms . . . until he could prove himself to be the one man worthy of her romantic ideals.

While Lasse Hallström’s Casanova takes off into uncharted territory by having the romantic hero fall in love with a woman who rejects him – the film also pays homage to the richness of Casanova’s legacy. The subject of numerous novels, plays and motion pictures, Casanova has become one of the world’s most enduring modern myths. But he was also a real man with an incredible true history – a spy, soldier, diplomat, writer and adventurer who became of model of living life to its absolute fullest. His memoirs provide not only an entertaining account of his romantic dalliances– they also provide a fascinating snapshot of the Age of Enlightenment and of a man pushing the boundaries of human experiences to their most invigorating extremes.