La Commune (2001)

Peter Watkins' Final picture: La Commune

La Commune was the final picture from fillmaker Peter Watkins. With a small film crew and a cast of amatuers, Watkins recreates the Paris Commune. During this epic, we witness the rise and eventual fall of the commune.
What prevents this movie from being a 5 star film was the lack of a tighter version of the film. The behind-the-scenes looks at the making of film were of some interest, it took away from the deep dramatic aspects of the film. Still an entetaining picture none the less. August 5, 2007

Engrossing

This is one of the most engrossing and challenging and in the end rewarding films I have seen in a very long time. It is well worth the effort and the time to get into it. March 1, 2007

A College Seminar Costume Drama that needs patience

Fans of Peter Watkin's earlier films, especially his brilliantly directed THE WAR GAME, and the cleverly recreated
faux documentaries, PUNISHMENT PARK and CULLODEN need to pull in their expectations when approaching LA COMMUNE. A lot of time has passed since those earlier triumphs, and there is very little "riveting re-creations of dramatic events to be had"---everyone TALKS about dramatic events, have just participated in them, or are going to --but the recreations take place in a large warehouse-factory,and are nothing like the
exciting moments in the earlier films. And there is an awfully lot of talking and polemic--socialist mindset--that, well, educates. Many of the scenes reminds one of a college seminar with students dressed in costumes airing the issues of the times--and if that sounds exciting to you, this is your baby. For my part, I longed that some of the characters, desperaton and tragic consequences of that brief revolution would be up there on the screen (the rows of coffins famous in photographs, with poetic young intellectuals placed in them comes to mind)...but this is the least "visual" of Watkins films. And there is also lots of filler (no drama, no debate, just meandering around with the camera) which doesn't help move the ideas foward very fast. For excitement, try THE WAR GAME. For visual beauty go to EDVARD MUNCH. But if motley revolutionists expounding endlessly for a doomed cause with a few bursts of passion and exalted oratory are what you crave, get ready to be patient and by all means, embrace LA COMMUNE. February 22, 2007

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