Danton [Criterion Collection]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

In 1982, legendary Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda fled his homeland and relocated in France to direct this powerful story about the ethical boundaries of power and leadership, which had many parallels to Poland's volatile political situation in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Danton (Gerard Depardieu) and Robespierre (Wojciech Pszoniak) were close friends and fought together in the French Revolution, but by 1793 Robespierre was France's ruler, determined to wipe out opposition with a series of mass executions that became known as the Reign of Terror. Danton, well known as a spokesman of the people, had been living in relative solitude in the French countryside, but he returned to Paris to challenge Robespierre's violent rule and call for the people to demand their rights. Robespierre, however, could not accept such a challenge, even from a friend and colleague, and he blocked out a plan for the capture and execution of Danton and his allies. Wajda remained in France until 1989, when the collapse of Communist rule made it possible for him to return to his homeland. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 2
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 (Vistavision)
• Subtitle: Eng
• Features:
  • Disc One:
  • Original Theatrical Trailer
  • New and Improved English Subtitle translation
  • Disc Two:
  • Video Interviews with Director Andrzej Wajda, Screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere, and Polish film critic Jerzy Plazewski
  • Wajda's "Danton," a 42-minute behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the film
  • Plus: A booklet featuring a new essay by film scholar Leonard Quart

AWARDS

• British Academy of Film and Television Arts

•     Won Best Foreign Film - 1983 (Andrzej Wajda)

• French Academy of Cinema

•     Won Best Director - 1982 (Andrzej Wajda)

• French Film Critics Circle

•     Won Prix Louis-Delluc - 1982 (Andrzej Wajda)

• Montréal World Film Festival

•     Won Best Actor - 1983 (Wojciech Pszoniak, Gérard Depardieu)

• Telluride Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 1983

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Gerard Depardieu - Danton
       Wojciech Pszoniak - Robespierre
       Patrice Chereau - Camille Desmoulins
       Angela Winkler - Lucile Desmoulins
       Boguslaw Linda - Saint-Just
       Roland Blanche - Lacroix
       Anne Alvaro - Eleonore Duplay
       Roger Planchon - Fouquier Tinville
       Serge Merlin - Philippeaux
       Lucien Melki - Fabre d'Eglantine
       Andrzej Seweryn - Bourdon
       Franciszek Starowieyski - David
       Emmanuelle Debever - Louison Danton
       Jerzy Trela - Billaud-Varenne
       Tadeusz Huk - Couthon
       Jacques Villeret - Westermann
       Alain Mace - Heron

• Director:

  Andrzej Wajda

• Producer:

  Margaret Menegoz, Emmanuel Schlumberger

• Screenwriter:

  Jean-Claude Carrière, Agnieszka Holland, Andrzej Wajda, Boleslaw Michalek, Jacek Gasiorowski

• Play Author:

  Stanislawa Przybyszewska

• Cinematographer:

  Igor Luther

• Composer (Music Score):

  Jean Prodromides

• Editor:

  Halina Prugal-Ketling

• Art Director:

  Allan Starski, Gilles Vaster

• Set Designer:

  Allan Starski

• Costume Designer:

  Yvonne Sassinot de Nesle

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Dominique Hennequin, Jean-Pierre Ruh, Piotr Zawadzki

• Makeup:

  Jackie Raynal

• Production Manager:

  Alain Depardieu

• Casting:

  Marie-Christine Lafosse

REVIEW:

• In this historical drama, Andrzej Wajda draws a parallel between the tumult of the French Revolution and contemporary crises in his native Poland. The film features what is often regarded as Gerard Depardieu's finest performance, as the compassionate rebel leader who tragically fails to mitigate the Reign of Terror of his friend-turned-enemy Robespierre (Wojciech Pszoniak). The French historical setting and political parallels to contemporary events make this one of Wajda's most accessible films for English language audiences. Igor Luther's cinematography gives the film's settings an authentic feel, as do Yvonne Sassinot de Nesle's costume designs. Among the screenwriters was Agnieszka Holland, who parlayed this and other prominent credits into a career directing films in the United States. ~ Richard Gilliam, Rovi