Chichester Cinema at New Park
La Marseillaise
Renoir's epic pageant about the early part of the French Revolution, shown from the eyes of individual people.
It was made at the tail end of the 'Popular Front' government, a coalition of parties (including the communists) formed to protect the Third Republic from right-wing domestic subversion and the baleful influence of the Nazis. The film chose the early years of the revolution as a metaphor for this political situation - France was still a (constitutional) monarchy, and the King (Pierre Renoir) possessed the power of a constitutional veto.
The Queen and her circle were said to be plotting a counter revolution. Within this context, each city and region of France is requested to send a Battalion to Paris, to defend the government against its domestic enemies.
We follow the adventures of some of the ordinary men in the battalion from Marseilles (who sing a new song called the "Marseilles" as they march). Finally, they participate in the coup that leads to the establishment of the Republic and the arrest of the King. (Subtitles)
France · 1938 · Jean Renoir · 125min
