Robespierre 1789-1989

The story

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.

Cast

C Christophe AllwrightMaximilien Robespierre P Patrick LaplaceLouis Antoine Saint-Just M Martine AbelaÉléonore Duplay R Régis IvanovGeorges Danton A Alain FloretJacques-René Hébert J Jean-Pierre MoreuxBillaud-Varenne M Marc BrunetCollot d'Herbois G Guy VerameJoseph Fouché F François LauzonTallien P Pierre CasadeiVadier M Michel Debré L Lionel Jospin

See more cast

H Hervé Leuwers A Alexis Corbière M Michel Biard M Max Gallo J Jean-Louis Bourlanges P Patrice Gueniffey B Bertrand Renouvin