He meets a country physician, who shows him how to treat cholera victims by vigorously rubbing alcohol on the skin.

To escape the rain, Angelo enters a dwelling where he is discovered by Countess Pauline de Théus (Juliette Binoche).

In the hills outside Manosque, Angelo meets his compatriot, Giuseppe, who possesses money raised for the Italian resistance, but which cannot now be delivered because of the quarantine and roadblocks.

At Les Mées, rather than head east toward the Italian border, Angelo accompanies Pauline north toward her castle near Gap.

The next day, they travel to a heavily garrisoned village where they visit a friend of Pauline's husband and learn that he returned to Manosque to search for her.

Impressed by Angelo's bravery and intelligence, Pauline promises to trust the young Piedmont Hussard, saying, "I'll obey you like a soldier."

As night descends, they seek shelter from the rain in a small abandoned mansion, where they warm themselves at the fireplace and drink wine.

Angelo rushes her to the fireplace, rips the clothing from her body, and vigorously rubs alcohol on her skin—tending to her throughout the night trying to save her life.

Soon they are back on the road, completing the last few miles to Pauline's castle, where they are met by her husband, Count Laurent de Théus.

Pauline looks east towards the snow-covered Alps that separate her from Italy and Colonel Angelo Pardi, the young gallant officer who once saved her life.

[3] In his review in the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars, calling it "a rousing romantic epic about beautiful people having thrilling adventures in breathtaking landscapes."

"[4] In his review in The New York Times, Stephan Holden wrote, "The movie aspires to an epic grandeur that is at once sweepingly romantic and contemporary in the lightness of its touch.

Although that goal proves elusive, the film will still leave you dazzled with its vision of a beautiful world cleft by disaster.

"[5] In his review in Reel Views, James Berardinelli wrote, "This is a wonderful spectacle, and, with all the action and adventure, it's an undeniably enjoyable romp.

"[6] In his San Francisco Chronicle review, Peter Stack wrote, "The Horseman on the Roof is a lush, grandly designed film with an impossibly good-looking couple at its center.