Peterloo (2018)

Directed by: Mike Leigh | 154 minutes | drama, history | Actors: Rory Kinnear, Maxine Peake, Pearce Quigley, David Moorst, Rachel Finnegan, Tom Meredith, Simona Bitmate, Robert Wilfort, Karl Johnson, Sam Troughton, Roger Sloman, Kenneth Hadley, Tom Edward-Kane, Lizzy McInnerny, Alastair Mackenzie, Neil Bell, Lisa Millett, Philip Jackson, John-Paul Hurley

Mike Leigh is known for his social streak; let’s just call him socialist. It is always social drama, even when he describes historical figures or events. Like ‘Mr. Turner’, which is more about the crippled life of a painter than about his work. In ‘Peterloo’ a violently crushed demonstration in Manchester from 1819 is prepared and reenacted. Largely staged, with a theatrical approach. What’s called, every scene is acted like in the British Parliament.

The visual reference point is ‘Blackadder’. Typically Leigh is that Baldricks are more likely to shoot through the screen than high-ranking gentlemen, and when they do, they are put in their shirts. At the same time, the tone is so full of engagement that you get bored easily; not because the event is uninteresting, but because the repetition of the same scene gives rise to it. ‘Peterloo’ cannot be called dramatic in the two hours before the carnage starts, more like a theatrical talk film.

The Peterloo demonstration, what is this one? Just cut and paste the Wiki, although according to tradition we have a few university courses in History in the pocket. The demonstration was organized by the Manchester Patriotic Union Society. The main goal was reform of the British electoral system. Due to the rapid growth of industrial cities, they appeared to be underrepresented in the House of Commons if the division of the constituencies remained unchanged.

The demonstration, which attracted some eighty thousand people, was largely peaceful. However, local magistrates feared that the demonstration would spiral out of control. It was decided to arrest the leaders. When some protesters then tried to stop the cavalry, the charge ended in a bloodbath. A total of eleven people were killed and 400 people were injured.

Not too bad, says the cynical news follower. But Leigh undoubtedly refers to current events. The privileged hate the bastards who vote for them and vice versa, while the middle class shrugs or hesitates. Has it ever been different? No, and in England they don’t like change. What Leigh fights for and against may be clear in the solid ‘Peterloo’, the inspiration must also come from the past.