Review of Danton (1983) by Fatchi D — 28 Apr 2008

The film captures the moments during which the French Revolution veers away from its positive, liberating drive into madness. The reunion/dinner scene between Danton, the more mainstream bourgeois revolutionary, and his former ally/friend/rival Roberspierre, more extreme and idealist, is worth it alone.

The two men, exceptionally personified by Gerard Depardieu (Danton) and Wojciech Psoniak (Robespierre), confront each other in an intense scene where all is laid bare. The movie is inspirational but chilling also, a useful reminder - especially in these days when the image of revolutionary icons such as Che Guevara have been so co-opted and diluted - that revolution (and I am still in favour of those) is not cinematic.