Review of Danton

Introduction

I am criminally ill informed about French history and the Revolution in particular. This would cause my father no end of offence, as he specialised in the period for his History degree. But for me, the Revolution is somehow linked with the Musketeers, the Man in the Iron Mask, and then the Count Of Monte Cristo shows up, hotly pursued by Javert and Valjean, and before you know it, I`m sitting down to watch a Pink Panther film. That just wouldn`t do when it comes to reviewing a film like Danton, so yesterday I did the honourable thing and picked up an encyclopaedia volume. What shocked me was that the revolution was so brief, only a scant few years between the execution of the French Royal family and the rise of Napoleon. A revolution that started with the best of intentions, that of establishing equality and fairness for all, and descended into the Terror, where anyone who dared to rise above the mediocrity that was the masses was destined for the Guillotine. One of the architects of the Revolution, the first head of the Committee of Public Safety was Georges Danton. Yet his disillusionment with the direction of the revolution led to a brief retirement and self imposed exile from the literally cutthroat politics of Paris. This film begins with the moment that he returns from that exile, to find the Committee Of Public Safety, and former ally Robespierre`s government increasing the reign of terror.

Danton begins by speaking against the government, at the cruelty that has taken the place of the freedom that he had fought for. Robespierre and his Committees believe that Danton`s words, published in a newspaper are merely a prelude to an insurrection, that Danton is plotting against them. Shutting down the press is just the first step, but Robespierre has no desire to create a martyr, especially of a man who holds the ear of the masses. If he can`t persuade Danton to toe the party line, he`ll have no choice but to denounce his former ally and those thought to be his co-conspirators. Lady Guillotine awaits.

Video

The image is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen on this DVD. The picture is clear although a little soft and grainy. Darker scenes lack clarity but by and large it is an acceptable transfer. Print damage is apparent at times, but it doesn`t affect the viewing experience considerably. The disc is coded Region Free.

Audio

This was a Polish-French co-production, and the cast is from both countries. However all the dialogue is in DD 2.0 French, and dubbed where appropriate. The dialogue is clear throughout, and the music is minimal, but casts an ominous air over the proceedings. The subtitles are player generated, but the disc locks the player so that they can`t be turned off. They may as well be burnt in. There is also the occasional line of dialogue that goes by without translation.

Features

Nothing to see here.

Conclusion

The blurb above attempts to present this film as a parallel to the current political situation, which is a tad misleading. Made in Poland in 1983, Danton has more immediate relevance to the conflict between Solidarity and the Communist regime, than it has to the current world situation. Yet the underlying themes of the film are truly applicable in any era, and the relevance of a totalitarian regime that has to brutally crush any opposition to it, both foreign and domestic, can be applied to any such government that behaves in a similar way. It doesn`t matter if it is the `with us or against us` mindset of certain Western nations` `war against terror`, or the totalitarian regimes of those they oppose, the message that this film imparts is equally applicable. It`s just a matter of degree.

The film hinges on two powerhouse performances, Wojciech Pszoniak as Robespierre and Gerard Depardieu as Danton. Robespierre is shown as a man who gets in way over his head. It`s obvious that the Revolution began with the best of intentions, but events spiralled out of control. The pro-monarchist nations of Europe effectively declared war on France the minute that the King was executed. To wage a war one needs money, and that means taxes. Further taxes levied on a people that were downtrodden in the first place is just lighting a fuse to a powder keg. It means repressing the same people that you fought to free. Once started down that path, it inevitably led to the Reign Of Terror, where any opposition to the government had to be dealt with the harshest of punishments. Danton returns to this situation, and speaks out against it, sees Robespierre`s government destroying itself as it turns on phantom enemies within. What Danton says is quite natural, but by this point Robespierre can only see enemies. Rumours and machination are all that concern the committee, denouncing their enemies before they in turn can be denounced, and holding on to the reins of power with ever tightening hands. Despite being urged to act against Danton, Robespierre chooses to meet with his former ally, in an attempt to convert him to his cause. It is a pivotal meeting, as the reserved and fastidious Robespierre and the brusque and voluble Danton try to convince each other of their positions over a dinner table. They are both complex men, Danton no less so, and Depardieu`s portrayal is layered with nuance. This is a man who was an architect of the Revolution, who wrote many of the laws that now convicted and sent the innocent to the gallows; indeed he also signed the King`s death warrant. Yet he knows that the Revolution has gone too far, that the people will turn on the Committees and those who live by the Guillotine will die by it. His desire to reverse the Revolution is a heartfelt one, yet it is a position that is anathema to Robespierre, who can only see one direction, forward.

If this film suffers in anyway, it is from the message. Films like this are often strongly political animals, and the temptation is to focus on the message to the detriment of the story. With Danton and Robespierre as such powerful orators, there are several scenes, not least of which is that fateful dinner, that allow them the space to pontificate at length. Yet the performances are such that this is never less than riveting. It`s just that I felt that this focus left the background a little blurry, and that some more idea of the lives of the people of Revolution era Paris would have helped place the film in stronger context. Still, this film captures a pivotal moment in history, and presents it on screen with some electrifying performances. If you are a student of French history, this film is essential. For everyone else, it`s a story that will be eternally relevant, and gives plenty to think about. Danton is well worth watching.