In London in 1763, Casanova falls in love with Marianne de Charpillon, a young prostitute who refuses his advances.

According to Première, "The film suffers from a scholastic construction and a breath of passion that is stifled by a too cerebral approach.

In particular its (successful) desire to capture the intimate rather than the lavish spectacular of a libertine era".

[1] 20 minutes was more positive and stated, "The audience is swept away by the deep emotion that emanates from this reflection on desire".

[2] A critic from Variety wrote that "The deep well of Casanova lore offers many opportunities for refreshment, yet Benoît Jacquot’s version dips into surprisingly flat waters".