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Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:
- Assassination
- French Revolution
- Glenda Jackson Films
- Mental Illness
- Peter Brook Films
- Play Adaptations
Review:
Formally titled The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade, this adaptation of Peter Weiss’s 1963 play (originally in German) was directed by Peter Brook, who also directed the three leads in the Tony-winning Broadway production. It’s most definitely a literate movie — meaning, those who understand the multiple layers behind its historical play-within-a-play will best appreciate it — but it actually stays remarkably engaging and visually arresting given that it takes place exclusively within one setting: an asylum.
Richardson is appropriately haunting as a man who spent the majority of his final three years soaking in a tub to deal with a debilitating skin disease:
… while Magee — perhaps best recognized by film fanatics for his supporting role in A Clockwork Orange (1971) — manages to convey de Sade’s intensity and perversion without hysteria:
… and Jackson shows her star potential in a crucial, tricky role. While this film is most certainly not for all tastes, it’s well worth viewing — particularly given Brook’s relatively small overall cinematic output.
Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:
- Glenda Jackson as Charlotte Corday
- Patrick Magee as the Marquis de Sade
- Ian Richardson as Jean-Paul Marat
- David Watkin’s cinematography
Must See?
Yes, as a unique adaptation of a most unique play. Listed as a film with Historical Relevance and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary’s book.
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