Peterloo (2018)

The story of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre where British forces attacked a peaceful pro-democracy rally in Manchester.

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh

Stars:

Rory Kinnear, Maxine Peake, Neil Bell

2 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rory Kinnear	...	Henry Hunt
Maxine Peake	...	Nellie
Pearce Quigley	...	Joshua
David Moorst	...	Joseph
Rachel Finnegan	...	Mary
Tom Meredith	...	Robert
Simona Bitmate	...	Esther
Robert Wilfort	...	Lord Liverpool, the Prime Minister
Karl Johnson	...	Lord Sidmouth, the Home Secretary
Sam Troughton	...	Mr. Hobhouse
Roger Sloman	...	Mr. Grout
Kenneth Hadley	...	Mr. Golightly
Tom Edward-Kane	...	Mr. Cobb
Lizzy McInnerny	...	Mrs. Moss
Alastair Mackenzie	...	General Sir John Byng

Storyline

An epic portrayal of the events surrounding the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre, where a peaceful pro-democracy rally at St Peter's Field in Manchester turned into one of the bloodiest and most notorious episodes in British history. The massacre saw British government forces charge into a crowd of over 60,000 that had gathered to demand political reform and protest against rising levels of poverty. Many protesters were killed and hundreds more injured, sparking a nationwide outcry but also further government suppression. The Peterloo Massacre was a defining moment in British democracy which also played a significant role in the founding of The Guardian newspaper.

---

Plot Keywords:

manchester | year 1819 | rally | protest rally | prime minister | 

---

Genres:

Drama | History

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a sequence of violence and chaos

Did You Know?

Trivia

The speech delivered by Rory Kinnear in "London" was filmed in Gainsborough Old Hall, Lincolnshire, and was written by Kinnear himself.

---

Goofs

The young Waterloo veteran who continues to wear his redcoat during the film can be seen in one shot with Corporal stripes whereas the rest of the film his tunic is that of a Private.

---

Quotes

Prince Regent: I know what is good for my people better than they know themselves!

---

Connections

Referenced in Granada Reports: 16 October 2018: Evening Bulletin (2018)

User Reviews

Moving Historical Drama

Peterloo: In some way this historical drama feels over long yet paradoxically also too short as it devotes little time to the aftermath of the Peterloo Massacre.Too long perhaps because of the vast cast of characters with speaking parts; director Mike Leigh might have better served his viewers if he had combined characters to ease the unfolding of the narrative. Four main magistrates in Manchester, later joined by a score more is perhaps a tad too many; especially seeing as one of them seems to be channeling Rowan Atkinson. But the cruelty of the magistrates, many of whom were clergymen is revealed in how they deal with ordinary people accused of petty crimes.

The film opens in the aftermath of Waterloo as demobbed soldiers make their way home on foot across Britain. one of them is Joseph (David Moorst) who returns to Manchester. Joseph is not well, suffering from what we would now call PTSD, still wearing his old uniform, he staggers around Manchester, fruitlessly seeking work. Through Joseph and his family we see the suffering of ordinary people in those times. The Corn Laws kept the price of bread high, wages were low, unions were suppressed. Another device used to fill in the background is the singing weaver (Dorothy Atkinson) who in two songs gives a potted history of the woes of the common people. But it wasn't just the immediate economic issues which concerned them, there was also a realisation that their lack of a vote prevented them from advancing their interests. Indeed in that era of rotten parliamentary boroughs, Manchester had no representation in the House of Commons. The build up to the Massacre takes up much of the film we see the clerks at the Home Office reading intercepted mail and reports from Manchester magistrates. Informers tell of what is happening at Reform Society meetings; agent provocateurs are sent in to encourage the wilder elements to resort to violence rather than to campaign for reform and the vote.

There are also those merchants and minor industrialists of Manchester who are at the helm of the Reform Movement, they publish the Manchester Observer (forerunner of The Guardian). They bring the reformer Henry Hunt (Rory Kinnear) to speak at the planned Peterloo meeting. Banned by magistrates it has to be put off for a week. The magistrates haven't finished though, they plan attacks on the new meeting and the Yeomanry prepare their weapons, the regular Army is also readied. On the day of the meeting (16 August 1819) which is called to demand Representation of the People and Democracy, 100,000 gather in the Peterloo fields. As Henry Hunt rises to speak a magistrate reads the Riot Act out the window of a building on the other side of the square, unheard by anyone other than his fellow magistrates. The Yeomanry and Hussars ride into the crowd, slashing at people with their sabres, joined by infantry with fixed bayonets. It is impossible for many to escape and eighteen people are killed with hundreds injured. The Government saw this as as a victory, even inking Peterloo to Waterloo. But from this terrible scene the green shoots of democracy grew.

The Yeomanry, Government and local magistrates felt they were crushing, Anarchy,an English version of the French Revolution, the reality was that they were attacking mor a peaceful version of the American Revolution: a protest against taxation without representation. People also maddened by hunger, low wages and repression of their attempts to organise unions. The Massacre is filmed in a choreographed manner without taking away from the slaughter which occurred. Meetings in dark halls and taverns are contrasted with gatherings and marching practice on the bright green and sunny Saddleworth Moor. The talk and debate is also central to the film but at times !9th Century Mancunian dialect may be difficult to follow.

Leigh delivers a vivid historical drama which falls short of being a classic due to being overstuffed with characters. This might better have been related in a six hour TV series. 7.5/10.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Peterloo

Filming Locations:

Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,002, 7 April 2019

Gross USA:

$151,971

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,998,945

Company Credits

Production Co:

BFI Film Fund, Film4, Thin Man Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

154 min

Color:

Color Color (ACES)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1