Five Must Watch Movies About Revolution
- By Anees Hanif -
- Aug 19, 2014
Well, one does not read only heavy books to know about the anarchist, people’s or revolutionary thought. A quick way to learn how the world’s biggest revolutions came about and in what circumstances, one can also watch movies for quick learning.
ARY’s web team has compiled a list of five top movies about revolution (some of them also depict revolutionary thought).
Let’s take a look at the list.
5. A Tale of Two Cities (1935)
About French Revolution:
Based upon Charles Dickens’ 1859 historical novel,A Tale of Two Cities. The story is set in the French Revolution and deals with two men who are alike, not only in appearance, but in their love for the same woman.
depicts the plight of the French peasantry demoralised by the French aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution, the corresponding brutality demonstrated by the revolutionaries toward the former aristocrats in the early years of the revolution, and many unflattering social parallels with life in London during the same time period. It follows the lives of several characters through these events
The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Film Editing.
4. Danton (1983)
About French Revolution:
This movie depicts the last months of the life of Georges Danton, a leader in the French Revolution. Also covering Poland in 1982, this is a favorite for many film lovers of the French Revolution time frame.
Action opens in November of 1793, with Danton returning to Paris from his country retreat upon learning that the Committee for Public Safety, under Robespierre’s incitement, has begun a series of massive executions, The Terror. Confident in the peoples’ support, Danton clashes with his former ally, but calculating Robespierre soon rounds up Danton and his followers, tries them before a revolutionary tribunal and dipatches them to the guillotine.
3. The Patriot (2000)
About American Revolution:
Peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son.
The film was directed by Roland Emmerich, written by Robert Rodat, and starring Mel Gibson.
Benjamin Martin is a composite figure the scriptwriter claims is based on four real American Revolutionary War heroes: Andrew Pickens, Francis Marion, Daniel Morgan, and Thomas Sumter.
2. Che: Part One and Two (2008)
Che is a two-part 2008 biopic about Argentine-Cuban Marxist revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Benicio del Toro.
Rather than follow a standard chronological order, the films offer an oblique series of interspersed moments along the overall timeline.
Part One is entitled The Argentine and focuses on the Cuban Revolution from the landing of Fidel Castro, Guevara, and other revolutionaries in Cuba to their successful toppling of Fulgencio Batista’s dictatorship two years later.
Part Two is entitled Guerrilla and focuses on Guevara’s attempt to bring revolution to Bolivia and his demise. Both parts are shot in a cinéma vérité style, but each has different approaches to linear narrative, camerawork, and the visual look.
1. V for Vendetta (2005)
No. 1 on our list because the film depicts anarchist ‘revolutionary’ thought and educates masses about the need of a just government.
Directed by James McTeigue and written by the Wachowskis, based on the 1982 Vertigo graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. Set in the United Kingdom in a near-future dystopian society, Hugo Weaving portrays V—an anarchist freedom fighter who stages a series of terrorist attacks and attempts to ignite a revolution against the brutal fascist regime that has subjugated the United Kingdom and exterminated its opponents in concentration camps.
Natalie Portman plays Evey, a working class girl caught up in V’s mission, and Stephen Rea portrays the detective leading a desperate quest to stop V.
The film has been seen by many political groups as an allegory of oppression by government; libertarians and anarchists have used it to promote their beliefs.
The Guy Fawkes mask has now become a common brand and a convenient placard to use in protest against tyranny – and I’m happy with people using it, it seems quite unique, an icon of popular culture being used this way.
FAMOUS QUOTES FROM V FOR VENDETTA
