MUBI

La Commune (Paris 1871) by Peter Watkins is one of the greatest films I have ever seen, it recreates the events of the Paris commune in a psedo-documentary self referential and anachronistic way. The existence of the camera the TV and today’s news-media are transplanted back into history making a point of the lies and manipulation of the media then and today, showing the falsification of events by the corporate owned media, making the argument for a public media.
Actors playing participants in the events from all the social spectrum being interviewed about the events taking place, scenes of argument and discussion by both the actors and the characters the actors are playing about the implications of the Commune, what they want from it, why they think it failed etc taking place. Showing the reasons for it happening and constantly paralleling it with today; the oppression of Women, the bullying and exploitation of immigrants, the ever wider gap between rich and poor, showing the role of the state back then and how little it has changed today, the lack of Education and how much better it could be, the role of religion etc.

It creates a real tangible reality of events taking place through the use of non-professional actors, improvisation, very long camera takes which creates this energy and inspirational charge that is very real. It’s an attack on the state, education, patriarchy, capitalism, the manipulation of the media and a rallying cry for dignity and equality – for real democracy; Socialism. It is absolutely fucking stunning, all 5 hours and 45 minutes of it! Watch it now!