More Commentary on "Saint-Just et la force des choses"
And now for my minute-by-minute commentary on the last part of "Saint-Just et la force des choses."
They seem to be doing fairly well with the planning of Fleurus and Saint-Just very accurately pwns an Austrian envoy.
OMSBWTF, Saint-Just has a fucking *vision* of Camille Desmoulins in the tumbril on the way to the guillotine, yelling all the things he is supposed to have yelled “I’m Camille Desmoulins,” “people, you’re being deceived,” etc… in the middle of the battlefield at Fleurus. My brain, if it wasn’t broken before, now officially is. But it gets WORSE! Then the figure in the tumbril becomes HÉBERT, who is SOBBING. Need I remind you that this is a hallucination Saint-Just is having in the middle of the battle of Fleurus?! O___o;;;; But no, of course it’s not over yet, of course not. Now it’s Danton in the tumbril…
And then it just cuts to Saint-Just back at the CSP, where Saint-Just and Robespierre are arguing with Carnot about Fleurus, which they would be, naturally, but they’re still as OOC as ever, so even that’s not accurate.
Okay, finally Saint-Just said something I don’t have a problem with, though I don’t know whether or not it’s accurate: he tells Barère to stop going on about Fleurus and other military victories, because he’s paving the way for an ambitious general to seize power. It seems to me that that was more Robespierre’s idea, but here I don’t really care; anyway, they shared many of their ideas, contrary to what this film suggests.
Oh *yay*, Evil Tyrant!Robespierre. I was wondering when he’d show up. Carnot accuses him of some very specific things, mostly do with the police bureau, and of course, being Evil Tyrant!Robespierre, all he can reply is, “And you, you… you’re protecting aristocrats!” At which point, Carnot naturally replies, “You’re a dictator,” which Robespierre also naturally finds laughable. (And it would be if, this were the real Robespierre and not Evil Tyrant!Robespierre, which I’m 99% sure is the one they’re trying to portray.) And now Billaud and Collot are naturally getting in on the scolding: “Everyone’s a fripon to you now, Robespierre,” says Collot, “You want to overthrow everything that is an obstacle to you.” At which point Robespierre, being oh-so-very-in-character, shoves everything that was on one of the tables at him and shoves Barère, and then pushes more stuff off of more tables. And then starts hardcore yelling about how everyone’s always talking about the “Armies of Robespierre” and the “Tribunal of Robespierre,” which, if he were the real Robespierre, would have every cause to make him angry, although this kind of temper tantrum is still exceedingly OOC (he just grabbed Barère and shook him!), but in the context of this movie, which pretty much implies from the beginning that he’s controlling everyone, this scene doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Then, when he finally stops, he sits down and says, “I can’t take it any more… I’m tired of life.” And then he gathers up his stuff and goes while the whole rest of the CSP stares at him. On his way out he says, extremely awkwardly, “You can save the Republic without me,” which, while not being his exact words, would at least be okay, if he weren’t so OOC. Couthon, of course, wheels out after him, but Saint-Just just stands and stares with the rest of the CSP, though he does essentially scold Carnot for calling Robespierre a dictator.
Saint-Just does get to talk, or rather think, since it’s in voice-over, about how “The Revolution is frozen,” though, which is nice, considering it’s something accurate, for once.
Okay… now we have a meeting of Thermidorians. I’m a bit afraid to watch. They are in pretty opulent surroundings; which is a good sign, but I’ve learned not to expect much from this movie. Tallien talks about how scared he is, how he can “no longer sleep at home,” and how “Robespierre had me expelled from the Jacobins; it’s the first step to the scaffold. But I won’t mount it like Danton.” And… that was all, oddly enough. O.o;
Cut to some random national guards trashing some guy’s apartment and arresting him. It’s never specified who it is though… Oh, I get it. It looks like they really are implying that the Thermidorians are behind all those arrests. (If they’re not implying that though, I’m just going to pretend they are, because it would be accurate and would therefore make me feel better.)
And now the Thermidorians are conspiring outside. In a fucking flower garden. One of the Thermidorians, either Fouché or Tallien, just told Billaud, who had suggested they guillotine a few “crapauds du Marais”, that all they need to do is convince the Marais that “their turn [to be guillotined] is coming soon.” Which I suppose is an accurate enough depiction of part of their strategy….And now they’re going around to random Conventionnels of the Marais and telling them that “Robespierre is making up a new list of proscriptions; you’re on it,” which again, at last seems to be an accurate detail about the Thermidorian conspiracy, as does the blame they heap on Robespierre for the acceleration of the Terror since Prairial.
We then see more of this acceleration, and while I think it implies (I’m not sure if this is just wishful thinking or not) that the Thermidorians are responsible for it, I don’t think it makes that clear enough. People watching this might just think they were telling the truth to those Conventionnels of the Marais, because they are describing the situation being shown… the only thing they’re actually fabricating is who is responsible, because it’s sure as hell not Robespierre, even in this travesty of a movie. (I have to give it points for that, at least.)
Now Fouché, I believe, is saying that now is the time to strike “the tyrant”. When one of the Conventionnels he’s addressing objects that, “It’s said he doesn’t come to the CSP anymore,” to which Fouché replies that that makes him all the more “ferocious.” …They then cut to Robespierre standing outside next to Rousseau’s grave, looking despondent while a voice-over of Rousseau talking about how lonely and isolated he is plays. At least Robespierre looks about the least ferocious it’s possible to look, which is good. At least it clearly demonstrates the Thermidorians are lying, which I think was less clear before.
And now the Thermidorians are telling those Conventionnels of the Marais they need to act… To which the latter reply: “But how? Robespierre holds the Convention, the Jacobins, the Commune… THE CANNONS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.” Okay, my brain just broke again.
But then it cuts back to Robespierre delivering his last speech in that OOC oratorical style that this film gives him-i.e. he gets angry and hysterical instead of logical, measured, and inspiring. This movie is, I reiterate, so painful to watch. ;O;
When he’s done speaking, they of course ask him for names, and he of course declines to answer… And the way he does it is of course OOC, and he says he doesn’t need “anyone’s friendship or support,” which is just OOC. But what am I saying? The whole thing is OOC, and has been from the beginning. OMSB, then the whole Convention starts yelling for “names” and Saint-Just just stares at Robespierre. The whole thing is so wrong, so inaccurate. My brain bleeds.
And then there’s the scene where Collot and Billaud come from the Jacobins to the CSP, after being expelled from the former, and Saint-Just asks them what’s going on at the Jacobins. Naturally, they claim that he knows. But of course, in this version, he really can’t know, because he’s not been in contact with Evil Tyrant!Robespierre. (And can thus be innocent of the “crimes” of this last.) The same thing is true of when they accuse him of “finishing the task Robespierre started,” which, *apparently* is to have the whole CSP executed. Whatever. *rolls eyes* Moreover, he then informs them that “I’ve not spoken to Maximilien in three days, but if he had shown me his speech I would have advised him to leave it in his desk-drawer. For my part, I will conclude against no one.”
Yet more WTFery: Saint-Just gets up to go and Collot tries to stop him by putting his hand on his chest and asking, “Where are you going?” to which Saint-Just replies, “Am I a prisoner? Don’t touch me, Collot, or you’ll regret it.” And then they all laugh at him, and Barère says they all need some sleep and makes Saint-Just promise that he won’t read his speech at the Convention, but that he’ll come back and read it to the CSP.
…You know what? I think they’re *all* wearing eyeliner. What is wrong with these filmmakers?! Also, Robespierre has a walking stick. Why? I just don’t get it.
Also, Robespierre is way too confident on the morning of 9 Thermidor, when he says that “the majority of the Convention is pure; they will hear me.” He says it almost casually, like nothing out of the ordinary is happening. It’s either bad acting or it’s bad directing, but whatever it is, it’s assuredly OOC and doesn’t fit at all with the gravity of the situation.
Finally, another accurate bit: Saint-Just sends the CSP a note saying “Someone made my heart wither last night; I am going to open it before the Convention,” at which news such members of the CSP who are waiting for him cry out, “the traitor tricked us, let’s go unmask him” (which is probably pretty close to what they really said, though of course we have no way of knowing). So they all run out, leaving Couthon calling after them to wait for him, which they of course don’t do. So then he has to call for a clerk to take his pug (you’ll recall, he has a pug in this), so he can wheel himself out after his colleagues. -__-;;
Another detail they get right: Saint-Just’s speech is interrupted in the right place, and the part he is able to deliver is historical. Except that it’s interrupted by a great deal of noise, which Tallien then has to interrupt in order to interrupt Saint-Just. His words are also pretty close to the historical ones here, as are those of Billaud, who follows him (as he should). Though that doesn’t make them any less painful to listen to. According to the historical record, Le Bas is supposed to try to speak here, but since he hasn’t been introduced, he obviously can’t. Robespierre then tries to speak, which is more or less accurate (They’re cutting a whole lot of the session here, but I can’t say I blame them, really.) Then he has another accurate line: “For the last time, president of assassins, will you let me speak?” But he and Tallien keep shoving each other, so it’s a bit on the bizarre side. Also, everyone keeps shouting, so it’s very difficult to understand what everyone is saying. Perhaps there are more accurate lines here, but I can’t hear them. Oh, I see… Now he’s appealing to the Marais and they’re calling him an assassin. And of course shouting “Death to the tyrant!” (“Down with the tyrant” was apparently too prosaic.)
So Robespierre goes back to the tribune and literally reaches for Saint-Just, who is just standing there, staring at the ceiling the way he was during his first speech. We get a lot of close-ups of shouting faces, and then we go back to Saint-Just who, accurately, is calm and looks rather impassive. Then it kind of looks like Robespierre starts crying-if this were happening in a more accurate movie I would be bawling right now, but even knowing that it’s Evil Tyrant!Robespierre I can’t help but feel sad.
OMSB, Augustin *is* in this movie! They cut the second part of his line, but we did get to hear him say, “I’m just as guilty as my brother!” This is probably a bad time for such a comment, but I have to say: he’s just adorable here; his hair is all falling in his face. Aww.
Ohhhh, Le Bas’s in it too! ^__^ And he has his line, and it’s awesome (well, in a bad way considering the circumstances, but both he and Augustin manage to be in character, so I’m very, very happy).
And then Collot has another accurate line, asking that Saint-Just place the speech he was about to deliver on the desk.
Cut to some random official telling Fouquier that Robespierre has been arrested, to which Fouquier replies, quite rightly, that that has nothing to do with whether or not he should do his job. After which we see a tumbril passing, on its way to the guillotine.
So then we have the Robespierristes being sent to different prisons-we seem to having an accurate streak here. I hope it lasts. And it does seem to be lasting: the Convention is in chaos, Barras is gathering troops, the Robespierristes are decreed outlaws (I guess we’re going on the assumption that they’ve already been released…?), someone cries that “we will know how to die at our posts.” I believe Collot is supposed to have said that, but here it’s someone else-if I’m right that will break the accurate streak, unfortunately. >.>
Okay, never mind: *now* they’re releasing them (well, we only actually see Saint-Just released-whoever it is who’s supposed to be releasing him hugs him and it’s very cute-or as cute as one get gat under the circumstances).
Oh, another scene that matches historical documents (it’s hard to tell, of course, with those concerning Thermidor-which I perhaps should have said earlier, instead of using the term accurate): Couthon says they need to write to the armies right away, to which Robespierre replies, rather dully, “In the name of what?” (interestingly, he says quoi here instead of qui), to which Couthon replies “In the name of the Convention; is it not still where we are? The rest is but a handful of the factious that the armed force we have will dissipate and deal justice to.” So more accurate (such as they are, remember my earlier caveat) lines, at least. Then, without whispering in Augustin’s ear, as he’s supposed to according to the source they’re drawing these lines from, he replies, as it says there: “My opinion is that we write in the name of the French people.” Saint-Just just stares at him, and Le Bas stares at Saint-Just. Couthon still has his pug. WTF.
A couple of Thermidorians, presumably Léonard Bourdon and Camboulas, just threw a couple of national guards over the railing of a staircase, probably to their deaths, and at least to their severe injuries. That was a twenty foot drop! The troops of the Convention follow them, naturally. We still seem to be fairly accurate here… Let’s see how it continues though…
A large number of Thermidorians (i.e. the leaders, not just their troops) seem to be at the Hôtel de Ville, for whatever reason. And we hear some gunshots, Saint-Just runs away, and we see Robespierre lying on the floor bleeding, groaning, and coughing, which is upsetting even given the way they’ve been portraying him in this movie. D:
Then we see Augustin sidling along a ledge outside a second story window, and we see him jump-or did he fall, it was a bit hard to tell-and scream when he hits the stairs outside, and naturally is hurt very badly. D:
And then some guy I’m assuming is Coffinhal threw another guy, whom I’m assuming is Hanriot out a window… So now we have three of them lying on the ground bleeding and groaning, which is accurate, but… ;O;
Now the Thermidorians are all standing there staring at them-Robespierre on the floor coughing up blood, Le Bas dead, leaning over on a table with a bullet wound in his head, Couthon just sitting there with his pug on his lap (there’s another non-accurate detail, but I’m already too affected by seeing the rest of them hurt to want to see him hurt too D: ), and Saint-Just just stands there at first, and then walks up to each of them in turn, never saying a word. ;_____;
Okay, never mind, they just dropped Couthon down the stairs now. D:
Cut to Robespierre lying on the table in the room where the CSP met, and being called a tyrant and an assassin by the crowd. Interestingly, I don’t know if the filmmakers should be credited with this or not, but it seems to me that this crowd is better dressed in general than the ones we’ve seen earlier…
Saint-Just looks at the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen and comments, “Yet I’m the one who did that,” which is of course one of several variants of the phrase he’s supposed to have said. I don’t like it as well as some, but it’s as potentially accurate as the others.
Cut to Barras asking Fouquier if “it will be long” and Fouquier reassuring him that they only need enough time to be assured of their identities. Fouquier then says it will take awhile to get them to the former Barrière du Trône, where the guillotine is, to which Barras replies, “No, Danton’s prediction must be accomplished.” Then Fouquier says: “Danton, ah, what a patriot!” and Barras says he “intends for them to go by the Rue Saint-Honoré to be executed at the Place de la Révolution,” and Fouquier has the guillotine transported.
Cut to Couthon’s execution, which they don’t seem to have any problem with. This is an instance of historical inaccuracy that I don’t have much of a problem with; it would be too painful to watch what really happened to Couthon at this point. D: D: D:
Then comes Augustin’s. It’s more accurate where he’s concerned: they have to pull him up the steps because his legs are broken. It’s so sad! ;O;
Then… someone else, I’m not sure who, though it could be Hanriot, because he’s pretty badly bloodied even if he doesn’t seem to be missing an eye, is executed.
And then it’s Robespierre’s turn. He doesn’t have his wig-Couthon, strangely enough, still did-and he has his head bandage. Okay, so they rip the bandage off… And he doesn’t scream, he just sort of winces a little. O.o; I have to say, as much as it upsets me when any Robespierre is executed (and you know that’s a great deal D:!), they really could have made this more affecting if it were less fake-the blood they use is all bright red like paint--and better acted.
Saint-Just is, unsurprisingly, given the movie is about him, executed last (that we see, anyway, the noise of people being executed continues through the credits, which I actually think is a good device, considering how many people were executed on those days). Right before he’s executed a voice-over says his famous line that starts, “I despise the dust of which I am made…”
All in all, I found this movie pretty terrible until we get to Thermidor, and at that point, while there are things I would have added and elaborated upon, I don’t really have any quarrel with most of how they portrayed it, interestingly enough.
…LTeLV is still a million times better though.