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La Commune (Paris, 1871)
First Run / Icarus Films

La Commune (Paris, 1871) reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 90 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.0 out of 10
based on 5 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 3 votes
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MPAA RATING: Not Rated

This epic chronicle of the Paris Commune of 1871 is an attempt to challenge existing notions of documentary film, as well as the notions of 'neutrality' and 'objectivity' so beloved by the mass media today. (First Run / Icarus Films)


GENRE(S): Foreign  
WRITTEN BY: Agathe Bluysen
Peter Watkins
 
DIRECTED BY: Peter Watkins  
RELEASE DATE: Theatrical: July 3, 2003 
RUNNING TIME: 345 minutes, B/W 
ORIGIN: French (with English subtitles) 
LANGUAGE(S): France 

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Village Voice J. Hoberman
Watkins restages history in its own ruins, uses the media as a frame, and even so, manages to imbue his narrative with amazing presence. No less than the event it chronicles, La Commune is a triumph of spontaneous action.
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100
Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
It takes time to grow accustomed to the docu- drama's stylized approach, influenced by Bertolt Brecht and Jean-Luc Godard. But this nearly six-hour movie is generous with time.
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90
Variety Eddie Cockrell
Taped in stark black-and-white and clocking in 15 minutes shy of six hours, invigorating pic is big, passionate and brimming with compelling human details and broad sociopolitical idealism.
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80
The New York Times Dave Kehr
In these risk-averse times, it is a pleasure to see a film that fails by attempting too much. Frustrating and demanding as it may be, La Commune (Paris, 1871) is essential viewing for anyone interested in taking an exploratory step outside the Hollywood norms.
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75
New York Post V.A. Musetto
Daring and unique, La Commune makes perfect viewing for the Fourth of July, which commemorates America's own revolution.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 3 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Aaron A. gave it a10:
Easily one of the ten most memorable movies among the thousands I've seen in my 64 years. Encourages one to feel strongly and think critically at the same time.

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