The Saragossa Manuscript

This web site is dedicated to fans of the movie who seek to understand it better.

Your first viewing of this amazing film may make you feel confused, dazed, or even drowsy. It may take a second viewing for you to follow the plot enough to realize how its innermost levels interact.

The story is not only very subtle, but also very humorous. I hope that these web pages enhance your enjoyment of The Saragossa Manuscript.

The following pages are currently available. If your interest is strong, I recommend that you read them in sequence.

Saragossa Home is where you are now.

Preliminary Notes give background information about the film and explain the structure of my outline.

The Outline is my outline of the plot.

Explanatory Notes include brief comments on the plot as well as several alternative ways to count the number of levels nested in the story-within-a-story-within-a-story.

Reading the outline before you view the film will save you a lot of confusion. It will enable you to look more clearly at what is going on when you actually sit down and watch the movie. There is no surprise ending to be spoiled.

If you prefer to see the movie first, I recommend that you take a copy of the outline with you and read it immediately afterward, while the images are fresh in your memory. It will enable you and your friends to start your discussion about the movie in a clearer state of mind.

Note: Spellings of character names follow the movie's English subtitles, not the original novel.

copyright 1999, 2006, 2013 Martin Schell