Original subtitles

The Franco-Prussian war which began in July 1 870

causes the fall of Napoleon lll's Empire.

A Government of National Defence,

mostly made up of moderate Republicans,

seizes power in an attempt to pursue the war.

lt ends in failure.

The Government signs an armistice,

against the will of the Parisians.

The Germans challenge its legitimacy

and demand a new one be elected to sign a peace treaty.

The elections of February 1 87 1

bring back to power a strong majority of monarchists.

The Parisians express their discontent openly

'' in what are called the ''''Red Clubs''''.''

From September 1 870, District Committees

shape their claims into a counter-power

which throws Paris into a pre-revolutionary climate.

My name is Gerard Watkins

and l play a TV journalist

in this film which deals not only with the Paris Commune,

but also with the role of the mass media

in past and present society.

My name is Aurelia Petit

and l play Blanche Capellier, journalist for the Commune TV.

First, what was quite difficult was that

she's a credulous person, a naive optimist,

and knowing the end of this story

and the events of the Commune, it wasn't easy to keep smiling.

Secondly, she likes her work in front of the camera so much

that she forgets to denounce and question

the power of the media, which she represents entirely.

These premises are currently occupied by Armand Gatti

'' and his troupe ''''La Parole Errante''''.''

ln April of this year, Peter Watkins and 1 3 Production

started to construct a film set,

recreating the atmosphere of the 1 1 th District

during the Paris Commune.

We would now like to present

our work-place during these past three weeks.

Yesterday we finished the shooting

and the set is exactly as we left it

after the last scene.

The following text will be added a few months later.

Above the barricade,

flies the tricolour of the Government,

replacing the Commune's red flag, which hung there earlier.

On the left is what remains of the Town Hall,

where the revolutionary Sub-Committee,

enjoyed absolute power, until yesterday.

Outside,

a Government army officer sat at this table

with pen and ink,

sentencing hundreds of neighbourhood Communards

to instant death

by firing squad.

Beyond this table is the local courtyard

with its flies and cesspool,

and the cafe

where we filmed discussions with the actors

about revolution and contemporary society.

Behind it, the Mont-de-piete,

a Government pawnshop,

which kept the working class in permanent debt.

Precious goods:

mattresses, sheets, shoes,

kitchen utensils,

sold if the families could not buy them back.

A cannon bought with the community's meagre resources

stands abandoned.

Yesterday evening,

this open space was littered with corpses.

An execution squad fired and reloaded without ceasing.

Among the people killed,

were workers repairing rifles,

women from a workshop,

children aged 1 3 and 1 4

who fought on the barricades,

and the local baker and his wife.

We ask you to imagine that it is now

March 1 7, 1 87 1.

l'm grandfather Thibaudier.

There are 5 of us

living in a small room

in the 1 1 th District of Paris.

The 1 1 th is a very poor neighbourhood...

not an easy place to live.

Many kids

sleep out in the streets.

So our family is not among

the most miserable in this society.

But we have to change it one day.

My name is Henri Dubrieux.

l live in this courtyard, as you can see.

l came to Paris from Franche-Comte

24 years ago, during the economic crisis.

l lived through 1 848,

and what's going on now reminds me of that period.

However, the circumstances aren't the same.

We've been defeated and humiliated by the Prussians

who proclaimed their Empire in Versailles last January 1 8.

On what's happening in Paris - it's a shame that

the newly elected National Assembly, representing the Provinces,

has passed a number of ridiculous decrees and laws,

like paying the rents.

We've just lived through a siege and very difficult circumstances,

it's no surprise that everyone is broke.

They could have waited and been more diplomatic.

l'm afraid it will all get worse.

We don't know where we're heading.

For work, l do odd jobs, but mainly l'm a public letter-writer.

l teach people, like little Marcel here.

He's my neighbours' son, very nice people.

He reproaches me for being strict

when l ask him to read, write and count.

But that's what it takes to become a free man.

l'm still a bit worried that things might get worse.

lf things go bad on either side,

the one to laugh

will be that bastard Bismarck.

The peace plan strips France of Alsace-Lorraine,

imposes 5 billion fr. compensation and,

supreme humiliation, allows the German army to enter Paris.

From 5:00 a.m.,

mothers are here with children crying in their arms.

lt's sad, people had nothing to eat during the siege,

they ate rats, roots,

what they went through was awful.

And now, the children are sick,

we hear things at the bakery,

young children starving because the bread is of poor quality.

During the 6 month Prussian siege,

the Parisians were cold and hungry.

The mortality rate doubled.

The jobless join the National Guard for 30p. a day.

For 30p., in January 1 87 1 , one can buy

a lettuce or a dog's brain.

Yes, for the bread, we do what we can,

we are starting to get flour but it's not good quality.

So in order to make a lot we have to mix the flour.

We add buckwheat, rye,

we add bran to try and make bread

because people are hungry,

and we have to make a lot.

People want bread.

lt's almost the only food you can find today.

l can't stand seeing people so miserable any longer.

These people crying, mothers crying.

lt can't continue,

the people are suffering too much, they've had enough.

Nearly 300,000 strong, mostly opponents to the new Assembly,

the National Guard is a Federation of elected delegates.

lts aim: to defend the Republic

against a Prussian invasion or a monarchist Restoration.

'89 was a bourgeois revolution. Nothing changed for us.

Same for Haussmann's building works in the fancy areas.

Sure, we pass by shop windows with splendid suits

and hams hanging from the ceiling. But for who?

Three working lives couldn't buy that stuff.

We're as poor as ever.

l don't want my kids to live like that.

So l want to do something, l don't know what.

But being in the National Guard seems a good start.

Only 1 0% of Paris flats have drainage,

70,000 cesspools require sewage workers labouring at night.

Candle is the only source of light for 80% of Parisians.

My name is Constance Fillon,

l live here with my daughter Frederique.

The courtyard is like a family for her.

l've been a widow for 5 years...

and she's found her place

at the orphanage on Rue Oberkampf.

We were lucky to have the sisters of St-Vincent de Paul.

l'm a midwife. l couldn't take care of her.

Things are stirring in Paris now.

We elected the mayor - Mottu -

he's talking of organizing state schools.

We need schools, we need education,

we can't have kids on the streets.

The nuns are here, they were here during the siege,

they give us soup, medical attention.

You like it with them?

Yes, the sisters are very kind.

l'm afraid they'll shut the school.

My name is Francoise Boidard.

l'm a primary school teacher...

unemployed.

Unemployed voluntarily.

l refused to work.

l refused to swear allegiance

to an education l loathe.

An education based on religion,

which makes children withdraw into themselves...

and submit to authority.

'' ''''The Black Army moves in fury, peddling night and darkness.''

'' ''''Each year state schools shut down by the hundreds,''

'' ''''and more religious schools open in their place.''

'' ''''The plan for universal cretinisation is alive.''''''

Blanqui, 1 870

My name is Marie-Louise Beauger.

l'm a primary school teacher too.

l worked under Napoleon lll,

but l resigned because l had enough.

We had to make the young girls say prayers,

teach them sewing,

useless things,

bring them up like their mothers,

to be dressmakers, washerwomen, no more.

So l resigned.

My friend and l regularly read

a review published by the Society for New Education

and we firmly believe in what they say.

We want things to change.

These are very troubled times, everyone suffers enormously.

But we put our hope in the future.

We want all girls to learn to read and write,

to get a real profession.

We want to change all that.

The National Guard, a militia with elected officers,

is devoted to its democratic system.

A Central Committee, rejecting all government authority,

is elected on March 1 5.

More than just a military force,

it becomes a political power serving a revolutionary ideal.

Soldiers!

Enlisted men of the 66th and 1 40th Battalions!

l saw you assembling.

lt's like a bordello...

Silence! Listen to your captain!

You're in the National Guard. At least show some respect!

Hold your noise!

- Obedience, discipline! - Shut up!

This morning, some of you came late again.

- Shut up! - You stop barking!

You're not at home. You're in the National Guard.

- We know that! - Stop this mess!

How much have you had?

l demand respect!

Silence!

We're not dogs! lf you'd talk nice...

The sergeant's always drunk!

Now, we're going to listen to Captain Lemmonier,

with respect!

- Be quiet! - He said silence in the ranks!

Citizens!

- Citizens! - Go on, captain!

Our National Guard has now become a Federation

to face a Government

that has betrayed our aspirations.

We must unite against tyranny and human exploitation.

Death to them!

Long live universal brotherhood and solidarity!

They say that the government

wants to take the cannon we paid for.

Never! Let them come, we'll be waiting!

Thiers' government has already passed many unacceptable measures

against the Paris population

which has courageously endured a long siege.

Regardless,

they reinstalled the payment of rents and commercial debts.

We won't pay a penny!

They also decreed that the items left at the pawnshops

would be sold to the profiteers!

- They also banned our newspapers. - We want Thiers dead!

- lt's intolerable! - Kill him!

They are violating our rights.

Be brave, be courageous,

and be vigilant, don't let them corrupt you!

Many merchants and craftsmen are in debt.

Rents and commercial commitments had been suspended.

But the new Assembly cancels this, causing 40 000 bankruptcies

'' and distress to the working class and ''''petite bourgeoisie''''.''

My name is Mme Theron.

My name is Emile Theron.

We have a little jewellery shop.

lt's hard now because of the government's new decrees.

We must pay our rents and debts and we have little in reserve

so it will be very difficult for us over the next few weeks.

Look at this new government,

all the monarchists elected,

it's quite frightening.

And things have gotten worse since the siege.

For everyone around here,

there's more and more poverty. Really!

l'm very scared because since the start of these events,

a lot of National Guard Battalions have been formed.

There's a lot of unrest

and that scares me a lot.

Yes, we sense some catastrophe,

a civil war or something terrible.

Because people have nothing left to lose.

Many of them really have nothing to lose.

This is true. And l'm not going to fight against French people

because l'm French.

l won't join the Guard,

but we might have trouble with the others

from this area later on.

We'll see about that, but he certainly won't fight.

He won't go fight in the National Guard. l'll stop him.

Fearing the Parisians,

the new National Assembly moves to Versailles,

1 9 km from the capital.

Adolphe Thiers, Chief Executive,

stays in Paris with his Government.

On March 1 8, Thiers sends units of the regular army

to seize cannon held by the Guard.

He fears the weapons will be used against the Government.

There are a lot of you in Paris this morning,

what's going on?

The National Guard seized more than 300 cannon

when the Prussians entered Paris.

They are stored in Belleville, Montmartre

and other places in the capital.

These cannon symbolize the dissident National Guard's

independent military power.

Negotiations to recover the cannon having failed,

Mr Thiers' government

has decided to recover them.

What are you up to this morning?

We really don't know.

lt's totally vague.

We're starving, that's all.

We don't have cigarettes.

And we're not allowed to talk.

Taking the cannon is OK by me, we need them to control Paris.

But they want us to fire on the people.

That l won't do! l don't agree!

Me neither!

l think this operation is a total mess -

if we're to recover the National Guard cannon,

where are the horses we need? We don't have any.

The cannon weigh two tons. Are we to carry them

on our backs? The officers think we're animals?

We have orders against men in arms grouping,

to stop them from moving into the city's popular areas,

where we are going

to recover the cannon.

lf we must fight, we will fight.

lf we do, there will be no mercy.

l fear that some of our soldiers

may refuse to fight Parisians.

Most of them are young recruits

who don't grasp the need for vigorous action

against the red elements.

l'm Marie-Louise Thibaudier.

l have 2 kids, Jacques and Celine.

My husband empties cesspools at night.

l do extra work for a big Paris department store

to supplement my pay.

l work as a dressmaker during the day.

l live here with my 2 children, my husband,

and Jules. He doesn't get any pension,

but he always gets something to eat.

Here in the 1 1 th District

there aren't many families like ours.

So many unemployed.

l still feel privileged.

Many women are looking for work.

They come every day to the shop

and it breaks my heart not to be able to help them.

Then again l can't go without work.

lf l gave them what l do....

Mother, come see.

What's going on?

Please tell me what's going on!

- Stay inside! - No, tell me!

Stay home lady, it's nothing!

What? Don't close the shutters!

lt must be the cannon, let's go see.

What's going on?

Come on, it's the cannon. Take your jacket.

Celine, put your shoes on. Come with us!

Are you coming?

The damned door won't open!

Nothing functions here!

The scenes in the 1 1 th District

were filmed in 1 3 days,

'' mostly using long, 1 0-min. ''''sequence shots'''',''

and chronologically following the Commune events.

Look at all those people!

- Calm down! - We've got to see what's going on.

Go home!

They want to take our cannon!

The cannon are ours!

lt's ours. We bought it!

We paid for it!

- Disperse! - No!

First warning. We will use force. Disperse!

Second and last warning.

We will use force. Disperse!

Long live Socialism!

Long live the Republic!

Fraternization with the army, led by the women of Montmartre,

foils an attempt to seize the National Guard cannon.

lnsurrection spreads spontaneously

throughout the working class areas of Paris.

By 9:00 a.m., government authority has vanished.

Two generals are captured, an officer is killed by the crowd.

His horse is hacked to pieces on the spot.

National TV Versailles. News flash.

According to information just received,

serious unrest has broken out in the capital

since the army's attempt

to recover cannon held illegally by the Guard.

Two of our generals, Lecomte and Clement Thomas

have been arrested by the crowd.

Their lives could be at stake. l repeat...

Well, hello, live from the 1 1 th District,

your reporter for National Television Versailles,

to brief you on the incredible events in Paris this morning.

lndeed, several movements of...

l'm from Versailles TV and we'd like to know what's happening...

Tell jackass Thiers to come back to the 1 1 th and we'll see!

You can see the strange atmosphere here in Paris.

You liar, back to Versailles!

lt's very difficult to get answers.

Can you tell us what you think of this?

The situation is quite disconcerting...

in my opinion.

And who are you ?

My name is Wickham Hoffman,

l'm assistant to US Ambassador

Washburne.

And what does the US think of the events in Paris?

Personally, l find the situation very serious.

With this insurrectionary crowd in the streets,

l'm quite worried.

For the property owners in Paris,

- it's very disturbing! - Thank you.

What do you think of the events unfolding in Paris?

l'm extremely anxious and very worried.

My husband is a doctor. What will happen to us?

l'm really very worried.

Do you think this riot could worsen?

Might it lead to civil war?

- l'm afraid so. - You fear that?

- And you Madame? - l'm shattered!

War was over, we had peace, and now this!

l can't understand it. l really can't.

- Will you stay here? - l must, l have workers,

l must protect my business.

- And you? - l'm frightened.

lt's like civil war, it smells of trouble.

l'm very worried for all of us.

l refuse to panic. We've nothing to fear.

Who are these men? Ex-convicts, drunkards!

Our army will come and sort this out.

The women saved the cannon.

Things are stirring in the 1 1 th in Paris.

- Too much misery! - Leave it. They don't care!

There's too much misery.

- lt can't go on. - No more privileges!

As you can see the atmosphere is hard to describe.

lt seems that strong discontent prevails in the capital.

lt's hard to grasp what's going on here.

lt's a bourgeois TV, sold out to power!

We've had enough. We have journalists.

We must be able to set up a Commune TV.

Yeah, but you also need equipment!

We can't, we don't have any!

That's why we must do it together, in a different way!

- That would be great. - We have to stop censorship.

We need a TV for us, for the people!

You have to contact the National Guard Central Committee,

in charge of the people, of us.

See what happened today, why it worked?

- lt was great. - So many of us!

The women spontaneously

- defended the cannon. - Up front with the kids.

- l was fuming against the runt. - We did it!

That means they'll stop at nothing...

We should stay together.

- They'll be back. - We must take the Town Hall.

- They'll be back! - lt's not over.

- Defend the Republic! - Fight on.

The Royalists want to return.

They want to nick our Republic.

l understand them, but it's mad.

Now that they've defended

subscriptions to the cannon,

they can defend contributions to parish costs.

According to information just received,

serious unrest has broken out in the capital

since the army's attempt

to recover cannon held illegally by the Guard.

Two of our generals...

What's that? They must be joking!

That's not true, it's a bunch of lies!

- Liars! lt's not true! - l want to know

how they take cannon without horses.

The Parisians paid for the cannon.

ls it possible to recover cannon, without horses?

lt's just lies. Their two soldiers? There's nothing to fear.

The cannon are better here than there.

Popincourt Street, at one of the Paris barricades.

Tell the people in Versailles. We're going to fight.

We're not afraid to die.

We found microphones, if they work you'll hear us.

We'll interview people to explain the situation.

Hello. Who are you?

Charles Capellaro, of the Basfroi St. Sub-Committee.

What's going on here?

We're taking the Town Hall, to run things in this area.

- Who are you? - F. David, Sub-Committee.

lnto the Town Hall.

Two guards here!

1 1 th District Battalion Delegates from the Basfroi Sub-Committee.

ln the Town Hall, a Municipal Delegation

is formed to run the local National Guard and the District.

What's going on here?

A new team is moving in. Next door.

- When did you arrive? - ln September.

Hello, gentlemen. We'd like to know what's going on.

What are you doing now?

Today, the people of the 1 1 th District

are back in the Town Hall

to run their affairs themselves.

To fight against a Government of traitors!

Enough, their confiscating the revolution!

The events of '48 are over!

This revolution includes

all the National Guard.

- Who are you? - 1 1 th District citizens.

Elected National Guard Committee members!

Long live the social Republic!

Listen, citizens!

We will never yield

to attempts to overthrow the Republic.

No more alienation, no more Monarchy!

Only we and our common interest are legal now!

Last night, the people's conviction stopped fat Thiers.

Long live the Parisians and the new Republic!

Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!

What do you think?

l think that with today's popular energy, we will go very far.

The people are angry. They stopped the army,

this anger is legitimate!

lt's exhilarating that they fraternized,

a great hope for the future. lt's truly an exceptional day.

lt's up to us to guarantee the power of the people,

to resist the old regime.

What about Thiers' actions?

They got what they deserved.

Worse than stealing bread. They stole their hope.

lmagine wanting to fire on the people,

on their own people. We'd never do that.

The bodies of Generals Lecomte and Thomas,

one of whom was partly responsible

for the bloody repression of 1 848,

lie riddled with bullets.

An autopsy reveals that most shots came from Government army rifles...

National TV Versailles, latest news update.

Good evening.

With great sorrow

we report the disturbances in Paris since yesterday.

We have just been informed

that Generals Lecomte and Thomas

were savagely killed by the crowd

during the recovery of the cannon at Butte Montmartre.

The National Guard Central Committee

moves into the Town Hall and Ministries.

They seize the power left vacant by the flight of the Government,

and take over as city administrators.

They plan to elect a Paris Commune.

Citizens, hello!

We're proud to present our first programme.

We'll call it Commune TV,

as we're hearing a lot about the Commune.

We might have technical problems since we lack equipment.

- Gerard Bourlet. - Blanche Capellier.

'' With us we have the ''''Pere Duchene'''' reporter,''

- Joachim Riviere. - Hello.

- So you're fictitious? - Completely!

l'm in this film as a witness to the role of the press

in this revolutionary process.

'' The ''''Pere Duchene'''' was banned?''

'' Yes. General Vinoy banned the ''''Pere Duchene'''' 1 0 days ago.''

With the Central Committee now in the Town Hall,

we'll re-publish by tomorrow.

'' ''''Pere Duchene'''' was famous during the revolution.''

With a circulation of 60 000,

'' the 1 87 1 version renews the crude ''''bugger'''' formulas''

inspired by its predecessor's political repertoire.

'' ln the film we often quote from ''''Pere Duchene''''''

'' and ''''Cri du Peuple''''. These are authentic.''

We will begin our investigation.

lnterviews with people of the 1 1 th,

to find out what they need now that social changes are coming.

- Hi. - What do you need?

Rich or poor man's TV?

- We're from Commune TV. - OK.

We won't ask the rich anything, or make any claims,

because we have the weapons. Nobody's taking them back.

We're the people in arms, we'll take, occupy,

we won't beg Thiers for reforms. We don't want reforms!

Today's a revolution. We've been sweating for so long.

With the weapons we take what's ours.

OK, thanks a lot.

- What are you hoping for? - l want work.

l was a cook in a bourgeois family, but was fired.

l've got nothing left. What l want is work.

Washing, laundry, anything,

l want to be able to work.

And you?

Like everyone l'm hungry, but that's not all!

lt's important to say we also hunger for knowledge.

We're fed up with education and learning

as privileges for people who use it to oppress us even more.

Equality means everyone has the right to education.

A right to culture. There's a bourgeois culture,

but we also have a sense of beauty and thought.

We should be able to criticize our world.

So we must learn, that's most important.

Thank you very much.

Hello, what do you expect from the recent changes?

Well, we want schools

to educate our children. We're tired of...

- We're unemployed. - ...kids in the streets.

There are empty premises and we want to put our children there.

We want girls to learn to read, write, get a real job.

Too many street-kids! Parents could bring them to us.

We must get organized.

l'll bring my child.

We also need parents to help plan these new schools,

a compulsory state education, free for all children.

- Thanks. - What are you hoping for?

What l'm hoping for?

For an end to slavery and exploitation. We're fed up!

We're treated worse than animals, it has to stop.

Dignity for men and women,

there's no space for women. We need dignity.

There's no space for women.

Women need to speak, a newspaper.

People aren't aware of women's problems...

Whether it's work or speech...

We want a newspaper, a rag, anything!

An uncensored press.

- No censorship. - Children, work,

that's what counts!

Your hopes with these changes?

Work. Everyone here is waiting for bread.

What we want is work.

Work is dignity, that's what counts!

We need to find long-term solutions,

we'll never slave again like we used to...

Things have to change forever, for our future!

Well said!

Hello.

What are you doing?

We're here to find some work,

some people have jobs.

But that doesn't mean we're forgetting Versailles.

Because if we forget them, they won't forget us!

We've come to see our mates,

hoping to find a bit of work.

lt can't go on like this.

What are your needs?

l need money to run the workshop...

And to get money, l need work.

l hope the future authorities will give me that.

Because l didn't have my mates come all the way from Picardy.

for nothing!

l have needs, but l want recognition

for all the women in the area,

because it's thanks to us

that the regular army didn't shoot.

So please, the Central Committee must acknowledge us,

so we can become members of this new assembly.

We're the heart of this revolution!

- And you? - You want to know?

- Just look at her. - Elisabeth!

That's what! l never want to see her again!

She exploited me for 20 years.

- You can't quit! - She dares to come....

while we queue for bread. Just listen...

You have a moral commitment.

l want out, l can't stand this!

- l gave you everything. - What?

A salary, a roof, everything.

l accommodated you and your family.

But l wiped her ass, she forgot that.

Even when she had her periods!

You'll fall back into prostitution and drunkenness....

l will pray for the soul of your son...

You never did anything for my son!

What do you want?

l'm really fed up! lndirectly,

l'm slaving for my husband's boss,

becoming my husband's slave, who's had enough.

l must go to the Town Hall

to get ration coupons, this can't go on!

Talking of work conditions, it's time for change.

We work night and day here without getting paid.

- What's up? - The pawnshop lady.

- lt's shut. l just left. - But you know me!

Too late, come tomorrow.

l have the money for my sewing machine.

What sewing machine?

- l worked 2 months for the money. - The cart left for the auction.

'' You know, the ''''fifth-quarter''''.''

l work 1 7 hours a day...

What you do at night is your business.

- lt's all day. - Don't want to know!

Women are the hardest hit in the poor working class areas.

An average salary: 4 fr. a day for men and 2 fr. for women.

Many dressmakers only get from 50 centimes to 1 .25 fr.

'' 20-30,000 Parisian women practise the ''''fifth-quarter'''',''

the time set for illicit prostitution,

in wine sellers' back shops, hotels, or their own homes.

At this hour, the Government has evacuated Paris.

Our army has withdrawn in marching order.

This information is completely false.

The troops retreated in such haste and chaos

that several regiments were forgotten in Paris.

The National Guard Battalions

have taken the Town Halls and barracks in east Paris.

We're approaching the National Guard.

Hello, we're from the Commune TV. What are your needs?

l'm very glad you're here.

We have the best men. Look at them.

We have the cannon, what we really need is ammunition, boots.

Look at them, they're barefoot!

We need uniforms, ammunition, modern rifles.

Our structure is very good, democratic and federal.

We're very pleased with it as it is.

But we need rifles and ammunition.

We have piston rifles from the start of the century.

They take 3-4 minutes to load,

the powder's damp, the shot never goes off.

Their troops have chassepot rifles firing 8 shots a minute.

How can we fight modern rifles with medieval ones?

lt's totally crazy!

We'll massacre them, because they're bourgeois shit!

We'll beat them, take their guns and power!

lt seems the National Guard Central Committee

has moved into the Town Hall

and put the capital in an insurrectionary position.

What are you watching?

National TV.

You mustn't watch National TV,

you must watch the TV that belongs to the people.

'' We'll publish ''''Pere Duchene'''' tomorrow.''

- We were banned. - Tomorrow!

'' You must write to the ''''Pere Duchene''''.''

OK, but publish. We'll trust you,

but publish in full.

We'll publish!

What we really need is to attack Versailles,

because taking cannon without horses doesn't make sense.

To provoke an insurrection, they would have done just that.

And after insurrection? Repression.

Versailles is weakened, but not for long.

We must react right now,

before it's too late, or we'll be the suckers.

What are your needs?

We need a change of government,

we're fed up with sick rulers.

We want to speak, we can't stay silent!

You must talk about us, show our living conditions...

Enough religious oppression, stupid catholics.

You must talk about us, see how we live.

- You can't leave us like this. - We want bread every day.

She's got something to say, listen.

They make me ashamed of having syphilis. l have to hide.

The bourgeois have medicine, we want some too.

People avoid us like the plague.

After the revolution, maybe we can

eat, love, think, do other real things.

Good evening.

What do you intend to do?

We officers plan to offer our services to the new power.

lt appears quite urgent to organize this great insurrection,

that is to say, to train, run, supervise and equip it

to defend the new power which is being set up.

Though the people showed intelligence and enthusiasm,

they still lack organization.

Our role is to set up an effective and disciplined Parisian army.

There is indeed confusion,

but there are many volunteer workers:

shoemakers and others...

but they have no experience. We'll make men out of them

to occupy the forts and attack Versailles.

Could you please introduce yourselves?

General Dombrowski.

Colonel Okolowicz.

Why are you here?

We have come to help the French

in this struggle against tyranny...

and to pursue the war we started years ago in Poland.

National TV, Laurent du Champetier.

Henri Gothie.

Good evening!

Tonight a special new programme

on a much debated topic: foreigners.

We know that the foreign camp

played a leading role in the insurrection.

l've heard these ludicrous names that come up in the Commune!

They come from all over.

At every meeting, in all the small groups,

foreigners all over, that's all l can say.

lf we consider the National Guard, it's infested with Poles...

Yes, those Dombrowskis, Crapilinskis, Oklowisc

'' - and all the other ''''skis'''' on earth. - Whatever they came for,''

they're not doing a very good job of it...

Any experience in this type of conflict?

Sure, urban warfare, guerrilla groups in Poland.

We have strong non-professional army experience.

Thank you.

As you know, we're in a rather special situation,

with a revolution on one side

and everyday life on the other.

We're in the St-Ambroise Church in the 1 1 th District.

l understand the fear, the anguished soul,

the refusal to suffer,

the anger of our friends and neighbours,

but to kill!

Why exchange even difficult dialogue

for murder without reason?

lt's a triple error. A political one,

to kill without reason is to give martyrs...

We'd like to know how the Church is reacting

to yesterday's events.

The priest said people were killed,

'' but the Church says: ''''Thou shall not kill''''.''

We killed 2 people, how many will come in reprisal?

Four, five, a whole neighbourhood, we don't know.

- What do you think? - Violence was never a solution.

But who let my 2 children die of cold and hunger, who?

They say that God is merciful.

These kids were innocent, they had no time to sin.

Where was the priest when l was raped by my boss?

lt didn't stop him from kicking me out!

- You practise regularly? - Yes.

lf you want to eat every day it helps.

We get some soup, and we can take food home.

l've been brought up like that. The priest told me

it was a sin to have an abortion.

What's the point of having kids, if they die?

...left us free to choose what we do with the life He gave us,

but killing never solved problems.

God gave us life for living, not destroying.

So be it!

Hello ladies, you're not in Church.

- No, we're not! - No, really not!

For us, religion

keeps women ignorant and passive.

Have you noticed how they teach the children there? Heads down.

Those girls will never say:

'' ''''No, l'm against that, never!''''''

- They're taught hierarchy. - Submission!

- Church is power. - We're not taught to think!

- They get crumbs. - My son won't be a priest.

They teach them authority,

divine authority.

Hello, here we are again with Joachim Riviere.

'' ''''Pere Duchene'''' reporter, remember?''

l'm recording the opinion of the Guard

on elections by the Central Committee.

You have an interesting opinion, would you share it with us?

Raoul from the 1 40th.

The Central Committee played a big role

in the defence of Paris and the ousting of the Government,

but today its legitimacy is mainly military.

We must give it a stronger authority, and therefore vote

to elect a Commune to represent people more efficiently.

National TV Versailles, latest news update.

Good evening.

With great sorrow we report the disturbances

in Paris since yesterday.

We have just been informed that Generals Lecomte and Thomas

were savagely killed by the crowd

during the recovery of the cannon...

Madame, what are you doing here?

l own the clothing shop

and the wash-house.

What do you think of yesterday's events?

l don't understand, l'm stunned. Two generals killed, what for?

We hoped things were better, we'd get back to work.

Now what will happen? There are no more orders.

l would take orders from anyone at all

to pay my workers, l can no longer pay them.

- May we ask them some questions? - Of course!

- Do you work here? - Yes, when there's work available.

l've been here 3 days, there's never any work for me.

There's no food at home. What am l to do?

What do you think of recent events?

l think it's great...

Two generals were killed because...

we're dying of hunger.

lt's our hope that killed 2 generals and poverty that's killing us.

lt's time for change. l'm like my friend, waiting for work.

There's no work, no food, no education.

lt's time for freedom and fraternity,

and the time is right, girls.

l work in the shop here. l'm quite old.

l've always been poor, l have a large family,

l've never been able to give them what l'd have liked.

My situation has always been dreadful.

l don't know what to think of all this,

but l would really like...

my children to live more decently than me.

l've really led a life of misery.

l'm happy they killed those generals.

lt's a good thing they eliminated those mad dogs.

And l want it to go further, that they all be eliminated

so we can live in peace.

We want to work, eat, that's all...

The cannon are our blood, let's not cry over generals.

The owner, she has her nice sides,

but she's still a bourgeois.

The bourgeois stole everything.

Three revolutions and they even took over our good Lord.

That's enough!

We want respect,

access to schools for our children, and decent salaries.

- What do you think of your owner? - We're exploited.

We work for hours, late into the night,

we're exploited, we want to eat,

live a more decent life.

The difference is, she's our boss, OK, we respect her,

but she eats and profits, not us.

She eats and does nothing to help us get food.

l'd rather not speak!

l started a week ago but haven't been paid.

l don't know what to do,

l have nothing to eat.

How do you feel about that?

l have been doing my best.

l know they have kids, that their husbands have left.

They go home with no money to feed them,

but l have no more orders,

so what will happen toall of us?

We all want to share the wealth,

we want work, OK,

but we want to be paid. Enough's enough!

We work and have nothing, she keeps it all.

lt's not true that she's helping us.

Sure, we come here all day like scumbags,

we depend on her. l'm not sure l'll get any work now,

having said this in her presence.

She could sell her necklace and share the money.

But that's not done.

lt's not, and when she speaks of the market,

she never shares the profits anyway.

We sweat for 1 3 hours, we have no food when we get home,

but she does, it's warm in her house.

Will things change now for the workers?

l'll take orders from anyone to be able to keep them, pay them

so they can feed the kids, but l need a market.

But why do we always work for you,

and you get the best out of life?

Why are we dying off, and not you?

We've always had bosses and workers.

'' We'll end that ''''always''''.''

Times are changing starting now!

We're going to fight,

we'll go all the way, we won't stop!

We're the future.

All the way!

This street is ours now.

We need a doctor to take care of us.

What are your needs right now?

l've only one thing to say. l'm pregnant.

l don't want my kid to live like us,

l don't want him to eat rats,

l don't want him to be building barricades...

The sisters are coming!

- Where did you get your bread? - l stole it.

- Stole it? - Yes.

Go on, let the ladies through.

Come on. Blockheads!

You poor girls!

Ugly!

What are you hoping for?

To go to Versailles, to get ammunition

for the Central Committee to act.

l'll tell you what l want!

l want our working conditions changed.

Our kids, our 1 0, 1 2 year old children

work 1 2 hours a day.

We work like slaves - women, children and adults

for starvation wages,

we earn hardly enough to survive.

We create the wealth, where does it go?

What do you think of religious education?

We've got to stop religious oppression.

Hell isn't up there, it's right here.

lt's not really their fault.

l went to the sisters' school,

what they stick in your head is crazy.

We need a state school.

Children must have

an education other than religious.

A revolutionary education,

we must teach them our principles today.

All children should be like those, with social principles.

They must fight with us. That's how we'll make a revolution,

it won't just happen, it'll take years.

We have to teach the kids to join us.

That's all.

Look, we have to take up rifles to earn respect,

but it's crazy, we're not thinking straight,

we should be normal school kids

yet we take up rifles, you find that normal?

One third of the children don't go to school.

Many young boys join the insurrection.

They supply the barricades and join in combat.

651 will be arrested by the Versaillais troops.

No statistics exist on the number killed.

Who gave me this rifle? The Guard.

- And l'm going to fight. - There's no other way.

- We'll use the rifle. - We'll kill them all!

That's all l have to say.

l have a message. My parents were bourgeois,

l came here, l split from home.

l want to tell them l never want to hear of you again!

Long live the Republic!

Long live the social Republic!

Hands!

To class!

Then with the women, it's almost the same story.

One of the leaders,

for example a certain Elisabeth Dmitrieff,

apparently a Russian aristocrat

sent by Karl Marx from God knows where,

is setting Paris on fire.

l haven't met her, she's said to be very pretty,

a hot number, excuse my language!

Paris is being set ablaze

by a great number of uncontrollable people.

Even Arabs in the Guard?

Yes indeed, the National Guard has Arabs as well.

They come from Algeria?

- From Arabia surely! - Of course.

What do you think of the upcoming elections?

We were talking about it with these ladies,

who are now getting into politics. Elections are useless.

As usual we have people saying:

'' ''''Trust us, we'll do things for you''''.''

A revolution is done with the people. Not above the people.

We have to get organized down here, set up committees,

because we have the weapons,

we have the real power, production power.

Political power is crap.

Who needs all those bourgeois, they know how to read and write.

Will there be a worker up there?

Precisely, now we have to build a popular government

of workers and revolutionaries...

people like us, who suffer

and know what exploitation means, who know what humiliation

and working for starvation wages means,

who can give people the means to take

their destiny into their own hands, to govern

and gain an autonomy to escape the slavery we're in.

And what do you think?

Well, personally, l don't have the right to vote,

so that's the first issue for these elections.

lf you really want all the people to be involved,

women must also have the right to vote and participate.

We made this revolution together, so it has to continue.

As workers, we're ready to commit ourselves and to take action.

We can't vote, but we're organizing.

A lot of women workers throughout Paris

are mobilizing - they're ready to fight

for real changes.

And you?

l was in favour of burning down the Paris Town Hall

because the people there

took great pleasure in enslaving us.

Now we might start to get a taste

for sprawling in velvet armchairs,

so l'm not sure l trust future events.

Are we ready?

Citizens, good evening.

We're now in the Town Hall.

lmagine, it's my first time in this place.

Behind this door, there's a corridor,

at the end of it is the hall

where 20 Central Committee members, including E. Moreau, are meeting.

The Guard has no intention of holding onto power

and is organizing for elections next Wednesday.

lt will soon be up to you, to decide with your votes

if there'll be a Commune.

And l quote Edouard Moreau:

'' ''''We must prepare the elections and give you''

'' ''''what you've always wanted, the birth of a true Republic.''''''

He added that, meanwhile,

the Central Committee would stay in control in the people's name.

Jenny Talbot, married to a teacher of oratory,

lives in a quiet street near the Madeleine.

The Talbots read the Paris press:

'' ''''Le Temps'''', ''''Le Gaulois'''', ''''Le Siecle''''.''

Today, they'd certainly watch the TV news.

Mme Talbot writes regularly to her daughter Marie,

married to a civil servant in Versailles.

The letters show the life of an upper-class household

in Paris during the Commune.

Here l am in Paris with Government malcontents.

l loathe the Parisians being in constant revolt.

l cannot tell you what l think of a Government

that did nothing for 3 weeks

to recover the cannon from the rebels,

and then one morning decided to do that,

without taking the necessary steps to ensure success.

And having failed, fled to Versailles,

leaving the insurrection in control,

and without the slightest resistance.

The Communards are convinced

the Government wants to stop a socialist Republic,

by restoring the Monarchy.

ln fact, Thiers, while humouring the monarchists,

is pursuing his plans in favour of a conservative Republic.

An upstart petit-bourgeois, Thiers, 73,

has been in politics for 40 years.

'' Parisians hate him and call him ''''little runt''''''

'' or ''''Thiers l, King of the Defeatists''''.''

A conservative Orleanist, advocate of law and order,

Thiers doesn't mind a Republic as long as he's President.

Gentlemen!

Thiers plans to create a united front at the Assembly.

The war against the Commune will serve as a pretext.

ln the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

ln the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Sit down and work well children.

Take your reading books and turn to page 1 1 1 .

Celine, you start.

The title of today's reading is:

'' ''''Being happy means having a clear conscience''''.''

'' ''''Child, true bliss does not come from without.''

'' ''''lt comes from deep within our soul.''

'' ''''From our conscience.''''''

The Paris Town Hall in the 4th District.

March 28, 1 87 1 .

Citizens, good afternoon!

lt's a wonderful day here in Paris!

The Town Hall square is now swarming with people.

Parisians of all classes

have come to witness the proclamation of the Commune.

The elected members are on the platform,

their red sashes echoing the red flags

covering the Town Hall facade.

The results: 80 elected members.

Only 1 2 seats are still vacant.

1 3 elected from the Central Committee,

4 radicals, 1 5 members of the Mayor's Party,

9 Blanquists, 4 Neo-Jacobins

and 1 1 lndependent Socialists.

'' To quote the press, and first the ''''Pere Duchene'''':''

'' ''''Proletarians will finally claim their rights,''

'' ''''and reap the fruit of their labour.''''''

'' And the ''''Cri du Peuple'''': ''''The Commune''

'' ''''requites for 20 years of Empire, 6 months defeat and treason.''''''

Long live the Commune! Now some interviews.

Hope you'll be able to hear us.

Hello. What's it like here today?

lt's a wonderful day!

See that? The Republic and Socialism united at last.

See the flags! lt's fantastic!

What a day! l'm so happy!

What will change?

Everything! l never dreamed of this!

Everything's going to change. Come, let's dance!

Thank you!

Hello! What do you think of all this?

Now it's the workers who are going to be the bosses.

Look at the poverty we live in.

Who cares about us workers?

We're treated like dogs.

So today, l say long live the Commune!

Thank you.

How do you feel about today?

They have reasons to revolt,

but l don't want it to get out of hand.

What do you mean? lt's legal, they've been elected.

What do they want? They're being led by foreigners!

Our highest values are ridiculed.

What are these elections?

They're just a handful of rebels,

they don't represent the population. Not a bit!

l'm very frightened.

What's your business here?

We're Republicans but we want peace.

- We want calm. - Order and peace!

We're also members of the French nation!

These people think they're back in 1 789.

lt's grotesque and illegitimate.

They're lost.

- lt's foreign-led manipulation. - Exactly, manipulation!

...the Marseillaise is a revolutionary song, Madame.

What do you think of today?

lt's great!

- Really! - A big change!

And at last Paris is ours, tell him!

Paris is ours... yes.. really!

What will change for you?

l was in the street for months, now l have shelter.

We'll have equality!

lt's a real revolution for the people.

What's it like here today?

Very good! Long live the Commune!

- We won! We won! - We've had enough. We won!

Death to poverty!

Peace and work!

That is where our future lies.

The Republic will make France

the friend of the weak, the protector of the worker.

Hope...

hope for the oppressed of the entire world...

and the basis of a Universal Republic.

The Commune we establish today

will be a model for all Communes.

The country and the Government

will applaud this revolution,

the most fertile in our history!

Citizen Jourde wishes to speak for the Commune.

Citizens,

we, the elected members of the Central Committee,

now elected members of the Commune

by popular will of the Paris population,

hand over to the Commune Council,

in the name of the Central Committee,

the power which recent events vested in us.

- Now we'll hear... - l haven't finished!

The Central Committee

will again take up

the duties it originally held.

l thank you.

Citizen Varlin would also like to speak.

Your elected members will defend your freedom with energy

and for all time.

Brothers among you, let your brothers show you

the path to the future.

Make the task easier by helping in the necessary reforms.

Rally round your Commune with trust.