Peterloo [2018]

I've been a fan of Mike Leigh for decades now, I was a fan of his work even before I knew who he was (I'm referring to the fond memories I have of watching some of his television dramas in the 1970's, especially “Nuts in May” and “Abigail's Party”). His feature films, I have generally always found to be, at the very least – good, and whilst some have been better than others (“Topsy-Turvy” was a relative low point for me) there's never been a film that I could find anything to really criticise, at least not until now.I was aware of the Peterloo massacre. Aware, in as much as I've known about it for thirty or forty years now. I live just over twenty miles from where it took place, and I remember hearing about this historic event in the early 1980's. I “knew” that people had died at the hands of the establishment, at what was a gathering of tens of thousands of working class people in Manchester – a gathering of people who ultimately, simply wanted to have there lives improved.If I was correct in what I thought I knew, then what I certainly didn't know, was any of the relevant story from before, during, or after the killing and maiming of these innocent people. And it is some of that detail that Mike Lee has given me with “Peterloo”.A two-and-a-half hour film about an historic event like Peterloo is a massive undertaking and a great deal of care has been taken in terms of accuracy in the film in everything from costumes and dialogue to how a musket would have been held, and Mike Lee has excelled in that regard, but it is perhaps at the cost of presenting an entertaining (for want of a much better word) film – it is high on accuracy but beyond the obvious inherent drama of the event there isn't a great deal by way of cinematic drama, of fictionalised, but still based-on-fact story-telling.“Peterloo” is a big film in many respects, with a very big cast, but Mike Leigh still managed to follow his usual directing method of not having it all planned out to the nth degree before hand, his actors are brilliant. Some actors in their first feature film, like David Moorst who is in the film from start to finish and is excellent as well as seasoned actors like Nuts in May's Roger Sloman.Given the film's subject, it is difficult to talk in terms of being “entertained” and perhaps I should be using language like “heartbreaking” or “upsetting” (which it is) but nevertheless, memorable for those things rather than memorable for now being better educated re the facts of the massacre.There is no doubting that “Peterloo” is educative, and that aspect of it is perhaps one of the best things that I have got from the film in that it has given me some of the “minutiae” that I didn't have before. Even if Mike Leigh's other two historical fact based dramas, “Topsy-Turvy” and “Mr Turner” were thoroughly researched and accurate, they could never have the gravitas that “Peterloo” has, and it is something that is still relevant today. The early Nineteenth Century movement for change that “Peterloo” shows, highlights how even when in the Twenty-first Century when suffrage is universal for anyone over the age of eighteen in the UK, those in positions of power, still are averse to change coming from the people.On the DVD (ASIN: B07JLMBD65)“Peterloo” (2 hours 27 minutes)Scene SelectionSet Up:English Audio Dolby 5.1English Audio Dolby 2.0Audio DescriptionAudio Commentary with Director and Writer Mike LeighOptional English Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.Special Features:“Life in the Detail” (6 minutes)“From Waterloo to Peterloo” (5 minutes)“Working with Mike Leigh” (3 minutes)

The facts are these: In 1819, a protest in favour of worker's rights took place in St. Peter's Field, Manchester. Government forces charged the crowd. Some people died. Many others were injured.It was only four years after the battle of Waterloo, so the events of the day became known as Peterloo. A massacre, as opposed to a battle.One particular newspaper, founded shortly afterwards, still exists today.But Peterloo is not something that seems to be as well known a bit of history as it should be. So director Mike Leigh set out to make this film in order to redress that fact.Peterloo starts in the middle of the battle of Waterloo. And then follows one soldier as he makes his way home to Manchester. The film covers the years from then right up to the massacre, following a group of characters through those times. Said characters range from ordinary working class people. To the local magistrates. And those who did get into the political field, not least famous speaker Henry Hunt.It's easy to regard 'it's grim oop north' as being a tv and movie cliché. But this film shows you a time when it was a grim reality. And it's pretty sobering viewing as a result. A time when people could be executed or deported for what would seem like incredibly trivial crimes nowadays. When places had no police. Or even no MP.And when the Prince Regent behaved very badly indeed. As accurately depicted in here.Although it will jump about between characters from scene to scene, focus on the film and stick with it, and you will find just how clever the structure of this is. Because by the time it all comes together on the fateful day, you find you've gotten used to all these people and are utterly familiar with them. So there's a sudden horrible sense of foreboding as you watch what unfolds.It is well balanced in it's depiction of people. Radical speaker Henry Hunt is so utterly in love himself as to be thoroughly unlikeable with it. The magistrates are three dimensional people, not evil, just desperate to keep the status quo. Even though Napoleon was in exile by this time, the establishment was still terrified of a British revolution a la the French one. And when the massacre does happen, one authority figure who did show a spark of decency is shown accurately, so it's nice to see them featured.It's an educational film as well, and it is quite clever in how it gets certain facts over to the audience, such as explaining habeas corpus. And let's be honest, if you took a straw poll of ten people in the street right now, you might not find the majority would actually know what it is anyway.The speeches are long. But that's how it was. In a time when people didn't have many of the freedoms that we have today and take for granted.This should make you think about that, and many other things, so long as you prepared to be open minded and give it a chance to fire your grey cells.Excellent and memorable and thought provoking film making, that does all it sets out to achieve. It's a shame it didn't get the attention it deserved. It is well worth five stars.The dvd has the following language and subtitle options:Languages: English.Subtitles: English.The disc begins with several trailers, but these can be skipped via the next button on the dvd remote.Extras:A commentary from Mike Leigh.Three featurettes:Life in the details. All about the making of the film.From Waterloo to Peterloo. All about the battle scenes shown early on.Working with Mike Leigh. All about the experiences of cast and crew on working with him,These all run roughly five minutes, and all are interesting and watchable and quite educational at times as well. So are all worth a look.