La révolution française

Although I was forced to watch this one, I quite liked it; it was surprisingly good. The cast was well chosen with the likes of Sam Neill and Jane Seymour. A good movie, a bit long, but still entertaining. The best French Revolution movie to date.

I loved this film, both the English and French versions! The detail was astounding, and the film managed to tell this complicated story without dropping any threads. Jean-Francois Balmer is touching as the hapless Louis XVI, a well-meaning but out-of-touch ruler totally out of his depth in the political and social upheaval that was to destroy him. The three main revolutionaries, Desmoulins, Danton and Robespierre are shown as genuine human beings with emotional ties to each other, but who start going their separate paths, at a time when disagreement leads not to estrangement but to death. The film is divided into 2 halves, "The Years of Light", describing the political changes taking place in France as the revolution approaches, and "The Years of Terror", beginning with the arrest of the King and proceeding through the Terror through to the death of Robespierre. The second half is better, with more action and suspense, as familiar characters become swept up in the destruction and insanity of a Revolution going out of control. Andrej Seweryn is superb as the cool tyrant sending his enemies and their families to their bloody deaths, while gently describing his view of the world as one governed by a spirit of goodness and virtue. His sudden fall from power in the National Assembly is spellbinding, and the movie roars to a conclusion as the first of the revolutionaries becomes the last victim of the guillotine. The only jarring performance in this film is that of Peter Ustinov in the first half, who tends to play himself rather than the great moderate, Mirabeau. The rest of the international cast is wonderful.

A rich and detailed production with a myriad of actors, both French and international. Sam Neill, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Andrzej Seweryn are superb.

What an incredible set of circumstances. Having not grown up in Europe, this part of history was not taught in our schools.

The people will be heard, (eventually) if they stand up in great enough numbers.

Like all movements, (common ideologies notwithstanding), they went too far. Gives credence to the saying, 'Live by the sword, die by the sword.' What a bloodbath. Have politicians of all creeds really changed that much? They're still motivated by their mouths and egos as much as the desire for any real reform. A certain type of person.

A really excellent production. I had watched the Depardieu film Danton first, which seemed more about actor ego than history. I regret having seen that. This is much more in-depth.

Available on YouTube as of this date. Worth tracking the full 5hr+ version.

This was the first movie I watched about the French Revolution. It gives you a very good introduction to the happening of events from this time. Highly Recommend giving this movie a watch. Some of the music (soundtracks) are very nice. There used to be on youtube an upload with the music, but now they're long gone.

La Revolution Francaise is not a Great Movie, but is very interesting historically speaking. It shows the spectator the most important aspects of the french revolution, without forgetting one. The actors are good, Danton, Desmoulins, Robespierre, Marat, all these great historical characters are good played by Brandauer, Cluzet etc... So I advice to see this movie, which is more pleasant than an history lesson in school! And the music, epic, is a good point for the movie!