‘Peterloo’ Review: Political Violence of the Past Mirrors the Present

There is an interview of Mike Leigh by Jesse Thorn on his show Bullseye. https://www.wnyc.org/story/mike-leigh/

Really looking forward to seeing this film. It reminds me of a young adult novel from the 70's, called Jonathan, by Margaret Lovett. It is a wonderfully written book--sadly, out of print and seems to be nearly forgotten. It is touching in its humanity, and rich in historical detail, and tells the story of four orphaned siblings, who are taken under the wing of an older boy, at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in England. It quasi-culminates in Manchester, with the children working in mills and coal mines, and with rumblings of agitation, despite the anti-Combination Laws of the time. Worth the read--for YAs and adults alike.

I saw this in London a few months back and loved it. Leigh has the remarkable ability to breathe life into what, in another director's hands, could be dull bits of history. He gives his camera and his actors the breathing space to fully inhabit their roles. The film carries added resonance in these strange political times. Don't miss it.

Words do matter, indeed. The reviewer sent me to the dictionary for both “vulpine”and “Orotund”.

Maxine Peake is one of the most exciting actors of her generation. Stream "Silk" and be captivated.

Regardless of everything else - the protagonist was a martinet who got his marching orders into black books and died unwanted when others, including Wellington got onto the case

As a Mike Leigh fan, I look forward to his new film. His films have a unique way of revealing humanity, human frailty, and resilience in the face of flawed people, often unaware of their own shortcomings. That this new film is based on a historical event promises to be especially interesting. Thank you for the review.

Good one - thanks.

Perhaps it should be noted that the quote, "We are many, they are few," comes from Percy Shelley's brilliant and immortal poem, "The Masque of Anarchy," which was his response to the Peterloo Massacre.

"words are deeds, that language matters" When a person of power speaks (or writes), it is best to him/her literally until it is proven otherwise...

A new Mike Leigh film is an event, akin to the opening of a new work by Kubrick, Bunuel or David Lean during decades past. They arrive only sporadically, which is a testament to the amount of thought and care that he's invested in their creation. This one seems slightly reminiscent of Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York," although one gathers that Mr. Leigh has spent more time developing the story and the characters than Scorsese did even as he, too, visualizes the historical forces that lift the narrative beyond its immediate concerns. Can't wait to see it.

A little more context: along with the paranoia caused by the recently ended revolutionary wars in Europe, you had the marginalization of the new industrial cities in the North relative to the old agricultural districts in the South. Some parliamentary seats were "rotten" in that the population had sunk to double or even single digits, while a seat in the North might be an entire city such as Manchester. Thus the calls for reform.

And timely as the Conservative government split over the corn laws as they are doing now with Brexit. Also a reminder that tariffs and mercantilism as represented by Corn Laws don’t improve the economy.