Robert Smith

Is it just me who thinks that the depiction of the Peterloo massacre in Mike Leigh’s film is a bit of a characature at times ... the sort of pythonesq discussion of the corn laws to inform the viewers about the suppressed workers with meticulously crafted northern accents; A man likely to be condemned to death by hanging for nicking a coat possible in theory but unlikely scenario in the early 19th century ... vicious Tories v oppressed revolutionaries the iron hand of the law v social injustice the conversations about this stuff somewhat staged like a social economic history lesson plodding the viewer through the history of this famous tragedy; the poor looking a bit too over fed ... the pre railway and thelegram bureaucracy beautifully portrayed; the age old conflict between the working class and the liberal elite who want to help them (but still look down on them at the same time) blokes eating hot potatoes and pies... The massacre scene is truly disturbing ... and moving .... hmmm.. there are many stages in history in the creation of the democratic British Nation from Magna Carter, the English Civil wars, the Glorious Revolution, the Great Reform Act ... and the English working class movements and societies of the 19th century.. as well as the movements for the enfranchisement of women ... the problem is none of it is as as sexy as the Tudors stuff ... even though it does need to be told .. I think I’ll give the film err ok 7 out of 10.