Danton

Death is the beginning of immortality

In the cold spring of 1794, on the second year of The Republic, Georges Jacques Danton comes back to Paris and tries to stop the Reign of Terror…

The director of «Danton» was a famous Polish film director Andrzej Wajda and, of course, the critics saw a parallel between the Revolution and the Solidarity movement. Nevertheless, Andrzej Wajda is much more than a politicized film director and you can’t analyze «Danton» from this simplistic point of view.

From the first minutes, Andrzej Waida draws the spectator into the real Reign of Terror: hungry people, ruthless guardsmen, blood-thirsty members of the Committee of Public Safety and merciless guillotine. The ruthless struggle between Maximillian Robespierre and Georges Jacques Danton starts.

France is torn apart by a «quite» civil war with more than a two sides – Jacobins, Royalists, Journalists, Hebraists and so on. Despite an adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen and democratic values, the country moves closer and closer to the dictatorship, which knows only one word – death. The National Convention smells death and the biggest group of deputies proves their nickname – Le Marais.

Georges Danton is depicted as a man with lots of illusions. He thinks that the Reign of Terror could be smashed by words. Georges Danton refuses to crush Robespierre by military force and he is convinced that the trial would be the tribune for the People. The Gods of Revolution craves for blood of their children and Danton would be the first human sacrifice for them. I cannot judge the historical accuracy of Danton’s portrayal. But you can affirmatively say that it is one of the best roles of Gerard Depardieu. If you want to enjoy the real Depardieu, who acted in the films of the best directors and starred with the best female counterparts, you should not miss this film.

Maximillian Robespierre is a very controversial historical figure. Some authors (historians and writers) are depicting him as a ruthless monster; other authors are depicting him as a true martyr for the cause of the Revolution. Andrzej Waida portrayed Robespierre as a stern figure and a firm believer in the Revolution. In the beginning he shows some remains of a human nature and tries to save his friends and comrades from the Tribunal and execution. But, as the overall situation in France deteriorates and the members the Committee of Public Safety becomes more and more blood-thirsty, a soul of Robespierre is progressively melting. When I read a literature about Robespierre, I imagined him as a Wojciech Pszoniak character – stern manners, silent voice and the eyes, which turns your blood into ice.

Culmination of the film is the trial against a members of Danton’s party. The trial could be described by Augustus phrase (I think it is misattributed to him): «You must die!» Despite courage and oratorical prodigy of Danton, the Committee of Public Safety sentenced him to death. There is no place for a rule of law, presumption of innocence and equality in the Reign of Terror. Nevertheless, «that rat Robespierre» and many other would follow Danton to the scaffold, and the star of one young general is rising, who will bury the Revolution.

Danton is a sincere and scary film about the Reign of Terror. I recommend to watch it in pair with La Reine Margot.