Un peuple et son roi (2018)
54KUn peuple et son roi: Directed by Pierre Schoeller. With Gaspard Ulliel, Adèle Haenel, Olivier Gourmet, Louis Garrel. The intertwining fates of the historical figures, the men and the women of the 1789 French revolution, as they meet at the newly established Assemblée Nationale.
“Iu0026#39;m French and I just reread the chronology of the Revolution, so the names and events are pretty fresh in my mind… at least they were until I saw this movie. The main problem is that it doesnu0026#39;t seem able to find its genre and goal. Not focused enough to be family drama, not precise enough to be a documentary, not nervous enough to be an historical action movie, not neutral enough to be a political movie… In short, it never decides what it wants to tell and ends up not telling much. Itu0026#39;s a succession of scenes, each quite OK but not making much sense together. The family we follow is a symbol of course, but come on, the same people being present at every single major event and political assembly of the era? Plus several things are shown in a strange way, like Robespierre being a calm and peaceful person? Marat (very well played!) as an actual friend of the people? Danton (not nearly ugly and fat enough) as a sort of enemy?nTechnically speaking the music sometimes feels off and is too present, and many filming tricks, down to the very font of the title panels, but also the framing and lights, are cheesy and seem to be from the 90u0026#39;s.nShowing the Revolution from an ordinary family point of view would have been a very good movie. Seeing it from the kingsu0026#39; office was nice too. Making a documentary about the Convention, yep, it could work. All at once? Sorry but nope. It ends up too messy and confusing to be enjoyable, despite very good actors and pretty decent sets and costumes.”
