Robespierre 1789-1989

Robespierre, a child of the Enlightenment, passionate about justice and concerned with order, is thrust into the storms of the Revolution. He becomes one of its most tragic figures. The guiding thread of this dramatic development is Robespierre’s own speech. Excerpts from his major addresses are thus staged, emphasizing the contradictions of a man who advocates for the abolition of the death penalty yet justifies the Reign of Terror, who tirelessly fights for universal suffrage but helps establish an exceptional regime. His life and exercise of power are confronted, thirty years apart, with the analyses and judgments of historians and political figures from the Bicentennial and the early 21st century: Michel Vovelle, Michel Biard, Hervé Leuwers, Patrice Gueniffey, Jacques Chaban-Delmas, Michel Debré, Lionel Jospin, Jean-Louis Bourlanges, and Alexis Corbière.

Directed by Hervé Pernot, Robespierre 1789-1989 leans on a strong ensemble — Christophe Allwright, Patrick Laplace, Martine Abela — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2019.