All language subtitles for La Commune Paris 1871 (2000) CD1

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 1 871

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, 1 871.

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 1 871,
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 40000 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,

19 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,
10-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!

11 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 60000,

'' the 1 871 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, 1 871.

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.

13 elected
from the Central Committee,

4 radicals,
15 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.

Our shared aim
is a Universal Republic.

And with the women too!

Of course with women!

With everyone, children, women!

We won't forget them.
Workers, everyone...

Long live the Commune.

Long live France!

The turnout at the polls is 48%.

Nearly the same
as for the mayor in 1 870.

The figure varies greatly
with the Districts.

'' ln the ''''posh areas'''',
fewer than 40% vote,''

compared with over 62%
in the working class neighbourhoods.

So many workers
elected to the Commune Council

is a first
in European political history:

21 members are proletarian,

30 are journalists
or men of letters,

13 are employees or craftsmen.

Different political trends
try to coexist inside the Council:

1. Supporters of the revolutionary
Auguste Blanqui,

2. Autocratic Jacobins,

who long for a return to 1 789
and centralized power in Paris.

3. Socialists trying to create
a network of federated Communes.

lt's a disgrace.
To hear the Carmagnole

after what happened
in '89, 1 830 and '48...

But Madame, it's a celebration!

They've been elected
by only half the Parisians!

So what are you doing here?

We have a right to be here.
We belong to this nation.

Aren't you moved by all this hope?

No.

They'll end up starving, Madame.

There'll be no-one left to pay them.
Look at their kids!

Thank you.

Hello.
What do you think of this day?

lt's fantastic, l'm very moved.

l hope this will be the start
of something new.

We've waited so long for this.

l hope this means
something exceptional,

but l'm not too sure.
l'm scared.

Near Versailles
is the military camp of Satory,

where the Government is busy
regrouping its demoralized army...

What are you doing here?

l had to... l needed the money,

without it l can't survive.

lf your parents
were watching you on TV,

what would they think?

Well, precisely, l'm here to save...

save my farm
and bring home money, but still...

ls saving France something too?

Well yes, but getting into
this situation is something too.

ln exactly 2 months,

the Versailles army
and its young provincial recruits

will be facing
the people of Paris...

and their children.

'' ''''When Francinet was alone,''

'' ''''he thought through...''''''

Go on!

'' ''''...all that had happened
since the previous day.''''''

Louder! Start again!

'' ''''lt happened to be just
at that time, the day before...''''''

Come now!

'' ''''...his heart was so full
of gall and jealousy...''''''

Recently M. Thiers

'' suggested that newspapers
like ''''Le Gaulois'''' and ''''Le Soir''''''

be distributed among your soldiers,

to boost troop morale.

Do you think this is a good idea?

lt's very important that
this mental confusion stop.

Don't forget the Commune
was built on crime.

Two of our generals were executed.

Our army has been disgraced by...

the rabble in Montmartre.

We, the army,
as well as the Government,

must explain
the nature of our struggle.

What we have here are yobbos.

They behave like good-for-nothings.

We'll show them who's in charge.

The soldiers will understand this.

We're not leaving Paris
to this cosmopolitan scum.

Yobbos,
probably led by a handful of...

foreign agitators.
We have to make this quite clear.

The point isn't fighting
French people, it's law and order.

French or not, it's the same.

A soldier's task is easy.

The Republic is in danger,
and we respond.

We're trained for that.

Does everyone agree on this?

French people have a right to know,

France is watching right now.

ls the army united
behind its leaders?

Yes, absolutely.

No question,
we'll have law and order.

No compromises.

You can guarantee
that these soldiers

from all over the country

will bring France victory?

We must defend freedom,
show what the Commune is:

terror, crime...

things the Republic cannot accept.

lt's disorder!

We're not enemies
of France or the French people.

The Communards are creating unrest.

That's all there is to it.

We'll intervene and improve things!

French people will understand.
No one wants to live in chaos.

We are the guarantors
of law and order,

and will act accordingly.

We shall use all means necessary.

With these good words we leave you.
France is counting on you.

Thank you.

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...

Despite the enthusiasm
sparked by the election,

the fear of centralized power
is in the air.

''March 27, ''''Pere Duchene'''' writes:''

''''''...a recipe
against returning traitors,''

''''''...in use at the time...
the Committee of Public Safety! ''''''

During the revolution of 1 789,
the Committee of Public Safety

was an infamous instrument
of political terror.

To talk of this Committee in 1 871
revives sinister memories.

TV Communale's editorial staff

''has decided not to mention
the ''''Pere Duchene'''' article,''

for fear of negative reactions...

We talk about the Committee
of Public Safety and you don't.

l don't understand why.

lt's quite clear.

We're talking
about the proclamation...

of the Commune,

we're talking
about people's hopes...

lt's not the time
to mention the Committee.

lt's a celebration,

everyone's happy
and wants to enjoy the moment.

All in good time.

Rejoice, OK, but you must develop
a critical attitude.

There's no analysis,
you give the info plain.

lt's important to produce analysis,
proposals.

Yes, but it's a bit tricky
because we also try

to let people express themselves.

We show extracts...

Look, there,
we let the bourgeois women speak.

Frankly, we're not going to talk
about that because there's no way

the members of the Commune
are going to establish

a Committee of Public Safety, ever.

You have the right to disagree,

but why don't you say so
and explain your point of view.

lt's a bit tricky.

We've chosen to go towards

getting the people
to express their opinions.

We don't give our opinion,
the people...

We ask the opinion of the bourgeois,
the priest, etc.,

to create controversy
in the situation.

You can criticize
while supporting the Commune.

ln my opinion,
it's important to underline problems

if they are to be solved.

lt's also true that your interviews
are very interesting.

Since people have things to say...

They speak for the first time.

But it's too short,
you've got to give them more time.

But you need to have rhythm

to win people's attention
on television.

lt has to be fast paced
like that for people.

lf we have debates going on forever,
they'll just turn off the TV.

Wait... it's their revolution!

But this way,

we allow everyone
to express themselves.

lt's chopped up anyway.

''Take any ''''Pere Duchene'''' quote:''

''''''No mercy for jackasses!''''
lt's always like that in the news.''

Of course, if you pick on one quote.

lt's not one quote,
everything's written like that.

Well, it's the same
for our TV shots.

Read the whole paper.

Excuse me, are you journalists?

Are you aware
of the new insurrection

that started last January
in Algeria,

after the return of the Spahis?

The Spahis?

The Spahis are...

a kind of National Guard,
or native police force

which was supposed to operate
on Algerian territory

but was forced to fight
against the Prussians.

When they returned after the war,
- return isn't the right word -

since a lot of them
were killed on the spot,

used as cannon fodder,

that's actually
what sparked things off.

lt's a disaster over there.

Who are they fighting?

The French troops in Algeria.

lt's tough, it never stops...

And that's not all.

Since they arrived in North Africa
they've never stopped

confiscating people's land
and possessions

to further European colonization.

Now the people have nothing left,

they are manhandled
by the French soldiers,

they're helpless,
they've got nothing.

They're killed.

lt's total misery.

ln 1 870, in an attempt
to avoid defeat by the Prussians,

War Secretary Leon Gambetta

issued orders for the mobilization
of the Algerian Spahis.

Several Algerians from a Paris
detachment rally to the Commune.

''''''The Spahis
are not regular soldiers,''

''''''but a type of National Guard
or police force''

''''''...their tasks are essentially
sedentary''

''''''...they can only be deployed
within Algerian borders.''

''''''...This order has violated
a tacit and traditional agreement.''''''

Oran Prefect to Gambetta.

General Emile Eudes
of the Blanquist National Guard

picks an orderly from
the Paris based Algerian Spahis.

He calls him Nigger
because of the colour of his skin.

Citizens, good evening.

Live from outside
the Town Hall Council,

we will inform you
of the ensuing debates.

Rather difficult,

as the first decision has been
to close the meetings to the public!

There's been tension between the
Commune and the Central Committee

on the question of power sharing.

Delegates Chalin and Mortier

apparently asked
the Central Committee

to disband and hand over its power
to the Commune.

One question remains:

who governs France - the Commune
or the Versailles Assembly?

''For the ''''Cri du Peuple'''',
it's clear:''

''''''lf the Versailles Assembly
had an ounce of common sense''

''''''it would admit its mandate is over,''

''''''and retire in favour of the
country's true elected members.''''''

''The ''''Pere Duchene'''':''

''''''Prove you've got guts by ordering
the National Assembly to dissolve.''

''''''Dismiss and disband it,
crush them if they resist.''

''''''Force is yours, but only by law.''''''

The Commune passed
the following decrees:

suspension of payment for rents,

and a ban on all gambling.

All dice, roulette, lottery gamblers

will be arrested
and brought to police headquarters.

That the debates are not made public
is intolerable.

The Guard will ensure that
all sessions are open to the public.

Not military matters.

We know what military secrets
lead to!

Elected citizens, speak up,
it's the start of secrecy, trickery!

People want to know.
What do you say?

Why are they trying to confiscate

the power we just won?

- We're reproducing the old system.
- Exactly, enough!

No one can confiscate our power

and stop us attending the debates.

We want the power for the people,
they should decide!

Exactly the same old system.

What's the point
if you copy the old system?

l'm for having debates
open to the public.

Then do something!
We can't, that's why we elected you!

The citizen is with us
if he helps us.

What we really want
is to attend the debates,

it's our right.

Not absurd decrees

on dice and lottery!

Good morning.
April 3, very early in the morning,

the Guard are preparing
to march on Versailles.

There seem to have been attacks
on Corbevoie yesterday.

Can you explain what you're up to?

We're off to Versailles,
we've waited for 1 0 days.

The Central Committee guys
are incompetent.

They gave the Versailles guys
time to get ready.

l fully agree with my comrade.

We're leaving with few resources,

l'm practically weaponless,
l hardly have ammunition or food.

The Central Committee
isn't aware of these problems.

But l think that we're on our way

to fraternizing
with our Versailles comrades

who are still unaware of the great
popular tide in Paris.

We'll explain,
and show them what's going on.

We must explain the Commune values,

and that the Parisians support it.

l think any citizen can understand.

Look what happened on March 1 8.

One lowered his rifle,
then they all did.

l still believe in man.
lt's possible...

No Stephane, watch out.

Last time they were lads
from and around Paris.

This time we've got
a monarchist army on our hands.

Led by aristocrat officers.

There are 400 monarchists in
Thiers' Assembly, it's their army.

The monarchy's back
to pinch the Republic.

Yeah, and we have to watch Thiers,

he's a manipulator.
We've given him far too much time.

But come on,
the real enemy is Bismarck,

the Prussian's our enemy!

What about the Vendee monarchists
with the king's banner?

The white flag.

Thank you very much.

Citizens Morterol and Heuzey,
how's our police?

Well my friend,
we're organizing a new police.

New, because until now

its job was to protect and preserve
bourgeois interests,

whereas our task
will be to preserve,

protect, serve the people's
interests. Hell of a difference, no?

We're expecting the people
to be their own police with our help

and the help of the National Guard.

Our methods will differ totally
from those of the lmperial Police.

Thank you.

One thing to know -

this may sound
a bit like denouncing,

but when it comes
to protecting the people,

that's beside the point...

At this very moment in Paris

a certain number of policemen
have dropped their uniforms

to spy among us.

lt's going to be a problem, they're
busy transmitting the information

they pick up in cafes,
and it can do us a lot of harm.

So we have to be on our guard.

And vigilant, extremely vigilant!

''Did you hear of the ''''sortie''''''

and the decree on the separation
of Church and State?

lt would be great if Church
and State were really separated.

But Versailles
will never leave it at that.

That's when things'll get rough.

The Versailles clergy
will never permit

the separation of Church and State.

- We must struggle.
- We'll struggle.

Citizens, have you read the
French Republic's first principle?

Freedom!

Freedom of conscience
is the first of those liberties.

Article 1:
Church is separated from State.

Article 2:
The religious budget is cancelled.

More money for us!

Knock on the door!

Can l help you?

What do you think
about the Church-State separation?

Now's not the time.

Surely you have an opinion.

That may be,
but this is not the time.

One can be a believer, but
not necessarily in an institution

that keeps making you feel guilty,

particularly us women.

We never have the right to speak.

They have no right to tell us
what to do. Enough of that!

l'm a believer and l go to Mass.

The Church should take care
of religious matters,

but not meddle with mine
and tell me what to do.

They told me not to abort. They
never stop making us feel guilty,

l don't think it's their business.

''Know what the priest said?
''''What, madame, no baby this year?''''''

ls that a normal thing
for a priest to say?

She doesn't agree.

l come
from the province of Picardy.

The priest was fine,
he helped the poor.

ln Paris, the local priest
is the only one to help us.

lf they go, what about us poor?
There'll be nobody to help us.

lt's true that the nuns help us.

But it's not their job. Anyway,
the Republic will give us work.

And take care of you as well.

We have to go to Versailles
to save the Republic.

With courage, even if it's hard!

What do you think
about the military situation?

We don't know much about it.

And that's why l think we should go

to Versailles, to find out.

There's a call to women
in the newspapers. Listen:

''''''Let's tell Versailles
about the Revolution.''

''''''Paris made the Commune
because we want freedom.''

''''''The Government's responsible
for our brothers' blood,''

''''''we hold it accountable
for our grief.''''''

That's beautiful.

''''''Let's meet at noon at Concorde,
and go to Versailles.''''''

Let's go to Versailles.

You want to go to Versailles?

Yes, but to talk, without weapons.
We must speak to them.

On the 1 8th, Versailles troops
refused to fire on the Guard.

We must convince them once more.

The situation was different.
They were in Paris, outnumbered.

They had problems with the cannon,
we rushed in the breach.

lt's totally different today.

The Versailles army is powerful now.

Our enemy has one idea in mind,
to massacre us!

No, they won't fire on women.

We've been in a state of siege
for several months.

We can't repeat it, we're isolated.

We must open ourselves
to the Provinces, spread the word,

so more people follow us.
We can't go right now.

You're naive, think
they'll listen when you're there?

They've been putting
bad ideas in their heads for a week:

we're barbarians to be eliminated.

You're crazy to go to Versailles,
they're armed!

But don't get the enemy mixed up.

lt's not the people who face us....
Thiers is our enemy.

We must tell them
they're our brothers and our sons.

You don't grasp
military organization,

Versailles is ready for us!

We must go armed.
l can tell you,

l know what handling a weapon means.
And we can all handle weapons.

There's no reason
to separate men and women.

l don't want violence or bloodshed.

Even so, we need
more women with the battalions,

there's work for 4 women
per battalion, why am l alone?

Andre Leo,
journalist and active socialist,

rises against the misogyny
within Commune staff, and notes:

''''''...on the part of officers
and surgeons,''

''''''an absence of sympathy,
curtness, insult,''

''''''a bourgeois, authoritarian,
narrow and mean mind.''''''

La Sociale, May 6.

Hello, gentlemen!

The women we've been speaking to
would like to help the army.

- What do you think?
- What's that?

Women would like to help the army,
join you in your attack.

Of course,
we welcome all volunteers...

in the army, women are very
glorious, determined and brave,

and they are more than welcome,

l believe them
to be good combatants.

We need all the help we can get.

And what do you think?

Did l get this right?
Women in the army? ls this a joke?

lt's out of the question.
Did you hear that Brunet?

Listen, l honestly think

there are more important issues
at stake right now,

this matter can wait.

No, we've got to go to Versailles.

Let's be practical,
the women can be used to cook, sew,

perhaps in the infirmary,
certainly behind the curtains

to help warriors rest.
That's all!

As a doctor with the National Guard,
are you going to Versailles?

That's my duty sir.

Would you be ready to accept women,

for example as ambulance helpers?

Madame, l'm afraid

that women on the field
of operations is inopportune

for the moment.

Why should our presence by the side
of our wounded be inopportune?

They're our husbands.

Based on the ethics
of a military situation,

our oaths do not include

recruiting women to the battlefield.

But some women have been trained
to become doctors.

They don't have a diploma,
but they could help.

Don't you understand that we're
on the verge of civil war?

Sure we understand, of course we do.

Your brothers and husbands will die.

That's why we should be there.

They're your kids,
brothers, husbands.

These are bourgeois methods
to make us

feel guilty for sending them off.
The men are free.

Free to fight if they wish.

Don't you mind
sending them off to die?

We're not!

You're sending everyone.

They decided,
and you people will kill them.

lf you feel guilty,
go to Versailles and speak to them.

But you see, we didn't go to
Versailles. We stayed here with you.

You're with us,
but don't want us to take part.

We don't want you to send
your husbands and brothers off.

That's our business.
Now we must go to the barricades

to look after these people.

We're offering help and support,

but if nobody wants it,
we'll do it alone.

Maybe later it'll be organized
and you'll help.

''What's this ''''later''''?
lt's happening now,''

not in 1 0 years' time!

Where's your husband, has he left?

But my husband...
l'll try to find him and help you...

He's your God, not ours!

- Why so upset over the Good Lord?
- Jesus was an anarchist,

the carpenter always on strike.

Jesus the artist, the leader...

You have made him
the God of the bourgeois.

And our beautiful Virgin Mary,

the Virgin Mary of my youth,
with her little blue veil,

and her little Jesus,
you've raped her!

Want to ask a question
or get an answer?

Bastards!

Shame on you,
preaching order and family.

Enough with order, family, husbands,

we want to be free, free at last.

But nobody forces you
to get married!

You are parasites
living on the people's back.

Church money should belong
to the people.

That luxury is a disgrace.

But it's not our money,
it belongs to God's people...

To those who wish to come...

To teach us to bend our heads!

Come on, fight for the Commune.

You won't solve the problem
with a gun.

On the right end of the gun
you think you're right!

lf it's the other way round!
Will it mean you're no longer right?

Well, we'll grab his gun.

lf he fires first, you'll die
for nothing. Reason is no gun.

Excuse me, Madam Defer,
you seem quite annoyed?

Yes, l'm completely
shattered by this.

My husband died during the war.

What can l do
all alone in front of this mob?

l'm worried.

We must save the work tools.

What'll we do
if everyone attacks us like this?

l'm off to the countryside,
l'm scared.

Scared?

Well yes. Because these women
can't reason at all.

lt's impossible to speak with them,
so what'll happen?

They could at least listen.

We've been silent for years,
so we're angrier than usual!

But we're women just like you.

What will happen next?
Maybe you'll kill me.

Maybe. lf you're not with us, maybe.

Take off your dress, put on some
pants, we'll see if you're a man.

Clubs, small popular gatherings,

flourishing in Paris
since the siege,

are set up in the churches.

Night services are suspended,

the faithful
replaced by apprentice orators,

including many elated women.

''''''The priests should be shot,''

''''''they're the ones who stop us
from living as we want.''

''''''Women shouldn't go to confession;
l should know.''

''''''l urge all women
to seize all parish priests''

''''''and burn their ugly mugs.''''''

Gabrielle, 1 7, St. -Sulpice.

Battalion, on my command...

Attention!

Citizens!

Silence!

The Sub-Committee delegation
informs you...

that monarchist conspirators
have moved to the attack.

Despite our restrained position,
they attacked.

This morning, soldiers from Vendee,
Brittany, and the police force

showered the innocent village of
Neuilly with grapeshot and shells.

They've started a civil war
against our National Guard.

Many were killed or wounded.

As elected representatives
of the Paris population,

our duty is to defend the city
against aggressors.

We will defend it with your help.

We depend on
your courage and determination

to repel the Versailles troops.
Long live the Commune!

Citizens!

Let the Versailles spies
lurking among us tell their masters

of the energy
glowing in our breasts!

Show them a brave population,

an army ready to spill its blood
for our country.

Long live the Commune!

Women citizens. Listen!

Let your husbands and children
do their duty.

To Versailles!

Battalion, on my command,
to the right. Right!

Women of the 1 1 th District,

you have the honour
of carrying the flag.

Battalion, to Versailles,
forward march!

To Versailles!

lt'll be tough but we'll get them.

What do you think
of the National Guard?

We think these soldiers
are full of enthusiasm.

But they lack training
and equipment.

They're not
well enough organized yet.

We think this will probably...
cause heavy losses.

On the other hand,
we have no choice,

the soldiers must train
on the field.

Why are you in France?
How did you get here?

You see, the situation in Poland
is very difficult.

For us...
do you mind if l speak Polish?

No, of course.

After the defeat
of the insurrection of '63...

we were sentenced to exile
to Siberia.

But we escaped
on the way to Siberia...

and chose France
as our country of refuge...

and offered our services
to the French army

in the war against the Prussians.

Are you concerned
for what's going on right now?

For us, our participation...

in the National Guard forces

is a continuation of the struggle

we've been waging in Poland
for years.

First of all, because Poland

has not been independent
for a very long time,

and we have always supported
the insurrections.

ln our capacity
as military professionals,

we've always helped

revolutionary movements.

After our departure from Poland,

we offered our military help

to the French forces

who were then
fighting the Prussians.

So our participation
in the National Guard

is a consequence
of our participation

in the battle of Paris.

Also, many of our colleagues fought

against the Prussians in ltaly,
with Garibaldi.

For us, it's something
of a tradition.

l was born in France,
my father came here after the defeat

of another Polish insurrection
in 1 831...

So l feel as much French as Polish.

What's more,
l think Poland won't be free

without a change in France.

That's why the Commune must win.

lf you want to change Europe,

you must change its unjust
social order. lt's our goal.

''The ''''Great Sortie'''' is a disaster.''

The army puts the Guard to rout
with its artillery fire,

many prisoners
are executed on the spot,

including Communard Generals
Duval and Flourens.

The surviving prisoners
are brought to Versailles.

l have very little to say
to this Assembly.

But what l can communicate
is so satisfactory -

if there can be anything
satisfactory...

in a civil war -

so satisfactory, l was saying,

that the brevity of the account
cannot diminish its importance.

Louder! We can't hear!

l ask the Assembly to forgive me,

my voice is faint.

l am extremely tired,

and it will be very difficult
for me to be heard

at a distance from this gallery.

Yesterday, as we all know,

we had to fight
these poor souls, who...

led astray by perverts,

wish to follow foreign war
with civil war.

The army has proven
its deep sense of duty

and, like the country itself,

its understanding of the situation.

The army has shown...

its remarkable vigour and worth.

Here are the traitors!
Kill them!

Shoot them! Murderers!

General Flourens' body is taken
to Versailles in a wheelbarrow.

Bourgeois ladies poke at his brains
with their umbrellas.

lt's awful, it's real savagery here.

Women hitting wounded prisoners
with umbrellas and spitting on them.

lt was hard to stop them.

l've never seen anything like this,
l'm shocked!

Anyone else, you?

l was frankly completely stunned
by the behaviour of the citizens

we fought for.

l really never could have imagined
such a thing.

Had we not been there,
they'd have been executed.

You were really angry back there.

These people only understand things
the hard way.

They are the shame of France.

lt's a great humiliation.
France sold to anarchy, foreigners.

- lt's unbearable.
- No red dictatorship!

Anyway, this is intolerable.

lt's a disgrace for us, Sir!

l was with friends.
l got carried away by violence.

They made us leave Paris.
l don't know what they want.

What's happening here?
They respect nothing!

They want our wealth or what?

There's a risk of dictatorship,
we'll stop it!

The Prussians besiege Paris,
they take advantage

of our defeat,
of the Emperor's sickness.

They take advantage...
to bring chaos. lt's a disgrace!

They dishonour this country.

They're manipulated, that's all!

We had to flee to Versailles.
We lost everything.

And the stink.
The lack of privacy.

No more Church, State, nothing.

- Generals killed.
- Back to Paris.

- They deserve death.
- l want my mansion back.

We know
they're manipulated by foreigners,

we know where these foreigners
come from. lt's the Garibaldi mob.

The Emperor gave them permission
to go to London,

these are ungrateful people.

That's typical, give them a hand,
they'll take your arm!

A handful of so-called
enlightened persons,

and masses who only know brawn,
when they agree to work.

They are manipulated by foreigners.

''They destroy everything,
then want bread;''

they've destroyed their work,
the industry,

it's all gone, too bad.
Back to work,

food for them later.
There'll be food for their kids.

- They're lost without us.
- We surrendered?

Let 'em wave cannon
at the Prussians.

- Who gives them work?
- Did they resist the Prussians?

l didn't see any real sign
of resistance.

What we want in Germany

is peace, a stable government,

in order to get back to business,

that's what counts, business!

The two governments
should work together.

And we want to sign a peace treaty,

that's the most important.

You can count on Bismarck.

There can be important

business agreements
between France and Germany,

if we crush this wretched Commune
and its workers...

Bismarck even released
French prisoners of war.

You don't understand,
Germany isn't the enemy,

you're killing yourselves,

it's a Franco-French war.

This must stop right away,

all the Communards must be crushed

and killed,
they're killers themselves.

The military rout and the execution
of prisoners by the army

thrusts the Commune
into a state of war.

Draft dodgers are arrested,
weapons and resources requisitioned

to equip the National Guard.

On April 4, the Archbishop of Paris,
Mgr Darboy, is arrested.

What's going on?

- Says he's a journalist.
- He is!

What proof?

''l'm a journalist
for the ''''Pere Duchene''''.''

Think l'll simply believe you?

Maybe you're a spy too. He's a spy!

''He works for ''''Pere Duchene''''.''

Don't speak to me like that!

He's with the press.
You've no right to attack him...

lf so, then by tomorrow
we want to see you write

about youth as you never have
in your old newspaper!

We want to take part
in these elections...

Write about the pawnshops,
it's a disgrace to the Commune.

We want them closed!

lf we don't get our article tomorrow
we'll find you my lad, you hear?

''''''As the Versailles government
openly tramples on''

''''''the rights of humanity
and the conventions of war,''

''''''The Paris Commune decrees:
Article 1:''

''''''All persons charged with complicity
with Versailles''

''''''will be immediately indicted
and imprisoned.''

''''''Article 5:
Any execution of a war prisoner''

''''''or a partisan
of the Commune lawful government''

''''''will be immediately followed
by the execution''

''''''of 3 times the number of hostages.''''''

This macabre decree legalizes
the people's call for revenge.

lt will never be implemented.

Only in the last days
of the Bloody Week

will certain hostages
suffer popular fury,

a desperate reaction
to massacres by the Versaillais.

Bloody hell! lt's madness!
We know the real hostages:

Bank of France, state property.

The Commune ignores 3 billion francs
from the Bank of France.

Anxious to keep a stable currency,
finance Delegate Jourde

contents himself with small
advances: 1 7 million francs in all.

The Bank is more generous
with Versailles: 257 million francs.

War is never the solution, though
it may be necessary for the moment.

The Commune,
the Revolution can't forget

education and children.

Look around you,
kids hanging out in the street.

They must be taken care of.

The Commune needs to open nurseries
to help the women.

All the daily chores

have exhausted and degraded them,
this can't go on.

The Commune must take care of kids,

from a very early age,

even before they're old enough
to go to school.

The children must be socialized.
lt's the only way...

We're now in the heart
of the Commune military system,

the office of General Cluseret,

who's just been made War Secretary
and Commander-in-Chief.

He's assisted
by prestigious foreign officers,

including General Dombrowski,
a regular Polish soldier

held in high esteem by Garibaldi.

He is made Commander of Paris
and the Neuilly sector.

ln the same spirit
of internationalism,

Dombrowski has given command

to General La Cecilia
of ltalian origin,

and to Generals Wroblewski
and Okolowicz.

We met your husband, how is he?

Not so well. He's exhausted.

He's trying to rest,
but as you probably know,

war has been declared
with Versailles.

He'll have to leave again.

We're a bit depressed.

You're worried about him?

Yes, l'm really scared.

Why only foreign generals
in this army?

ltalians, Spaniards, Poles,
they couldn't find a French one?

So, what's the problem?

Who's going to defend
the interests of the people?

They're perfectly capable, why not?

lt's not the first time a foreigner
defends French interests.

What's Theron doing to fight,
to defend the Commune?

l'm not joking,
he's the youngest of us all!

What about the freedom
to choose to fight or not to fight?

Shouldn't we have that choice?
Really!

- lt's unfair.
- Why doesn't he fight?

Why must others die while he hides
in his jeweller's shop? That's crap.

Come with us to the barricades!
Come!

- Mother doesn't agree.
- What do your family think?

Mother's against it.
She thinks it's dangerous.

But come on,
Dad and Grandpa want us to go.

The young ones go and fight
and Theron stays here.

lt's outrageous.
lt's a disgrace!

Of course we'll go if we must.

l fought in Crimea, so there!

Didn't you see
what happened in Versailles?

Bloody hell,
see how worried Agnes is?

Want to fight right here
in the courtyard?

ls that it? Why not kill him!

Present arms!

Attention! Present arms!

General salute!

Thiers aims to build an army
powerful enough

to crush the Paris rebellion.

His army of 40,000 is reinforced
by returning prisoners,

accelerated by a peace treaty
signed on May 1 0.

He will soon have a trained
and equipped army of 1 30,000 men.

How are things going?

l'm very happy. Our boss has opened
the workshop and wash-house,

though we're not getting
a salary increase.

Still, there's a bit of work,
that's a good start.

Some have nothing.

Enough of empty stomachs!

l'll save up for my mattress.

What do you think
of the present situation?

The thing is, the more work we get
the less we get paid.

l fixed a price with the owner,

but now she'll only pay
half what she promised.

l can't live on that,

l don't have time for all the work.

l think we should have
a place to meet.

Some have no work, others have
too much, some sleep outside.

We need a place to meet
and discuss all this.

Discuss! What for, we have to act!

We must have solidarity.

We must act.
Talking won't make things better.

Let's organize. l'll take the kids,
or do other things.

Getting organized is fine,
but we must act now.

lt's no good waiting around.

Give us work.

All we have is our work.

l can only give what l've got.
Everyone's off fighting.

l know l'm paying less,
but l'm doing what l can.

You're talking money,
l'll show you real solidarity.

This sheet belongs to a woman
who's too old to work,

so l do it for her.

As for the salary, well,
she needs it more than me.

Maybe the Town Hall will give you
the 1 1 th District...

military linen to wash.

- And the pay!
- l'm negotiating.

- lt's work.
- What's the use if we're not paid?

Let me speak for a second,
you never let me.

l am negotiating with the Town Hall

to get the contract
for the officers' shirts.

But it's not easy,
with the administration.

Here in the 1 1 th District

a municipality has been organized
since we last came.

Who are you
and what are you doing here?

My name is Baux-Picard and
l'm in charge of the registry office

as well as setting up a commission

for war widows' pensions,

and, as of now,
financial assistance for the needy.

Citizen Verdure, why are you here?

As an elected member of the Commune

and 1 1 th District,
l carry out administrative tasks.

Today we'll celebrate
our first Republican baptism.

lt's a big event!

What do you do here?

l keep the civil register,
control security,

and draw up information sheets.

- What's your name?
- Blanche Capellier.

What are you doing here?

l'm citizen Patey,
Delegate for subsistence.

l distribute food stamps,

with a meal...

and 500 grams of bread
for each person who's registered.

That's my role at the Town Hall.

And what do you do?

l'm his assistant.

This procedure was set up
during the siege,

but we had little to give then.
Now we have something.

We're from TV Commune.
What are you doing?

l'm Charles Capellaro,
municipal Delegate,

in charge
of National Guard supplies:

equipment, weapons, food stamps.

As a matter of fact,
this Guard came for food stamps.

The problem is he doesn't have
an inventory form.

A document.
My commander didn't give me one.

Ask him to give you the document.

Come back and l'll help you!

Along with registry
and National Guard supplies,

the Town Hall is in charge
of the revolutionary police,

and denunciations against
bourgeois enemies and draft evaders.

Who you are?

Henri Appollon Guillaume.
l'm in charge of law and order:

requisitions, searches, arrests,

and sometimes denunciations too.

What are you doing here?

l'm a member of the civilian
delegation Sub-Committee.

l register statements

for the arrest of draft evaders,
searches and requisitions.

What's going on here?

We're interrogating this citizen
who hangs around bars,

spreading lies.
He's a draft evader.

So, citizen!

What has he done?

He was spreading lies
and making defeatist remarks.

He was completely drunk last night.

He was in the 1 1 th, because bars
are cheaper here than in Versailles.

Any comment?

l don't know, l just woke up.
l was in the bar yesterday,

and now l'm here with you.
What's this spy thing?

l was just in the bar,
what do you want?

Without morals, man is lost.
Save yourself and help the Republic.

''l'm preparing the first issue
of ''''Le Proletaire'''',''

which we'll publish
as soon as we find funds.

What will you write?

Whatever
the people of the 1 1 th want,

within a certain political frame,
defending certain ideas.

l'll give you an example
of our political line:

''''''We, the proletariat, defend
solidarity, union, equality.''

''''''We want all privileges
and monopolies to be replaced''

''''''by the law of capacity,''

''''''so the worker may truly profit
from the product of his labour.''

''''''We want free, compulsory,
and public primary education.''

''''''We want the elected delegate
to always be accountable.''''''

That's what we want, and will debate
in the streets, meetings,

and in this newspaper very soon.

Leontine Rombert.
You asked me to arrest her.

How dare you treat women so?

The Paris police have asked
the 1 1 th District Town Hall

to collect information
concerning certain citizens

who are in contact with Versailles.

As police superintendent
for the 1 1 th, l'll apply

these measures in the most radical,
even if unpopular, way -

to establish a tight,
systematic surveillance

of all activities in the District.

What about my husband?
l already said...

Start again!

He went to Versailles
to do his duty.

What for?
The Commune is the government now.

lt's his job and his business!

l've a house to run, kids to raise.

Do you think it's easy?

Divorce, citizen!

You won't have to queue
and you'll get 3 days' rations...

Citizen Vatrin Gerard
and citizen Desgranges Marie

declare their wish
to place their child Lucien

under the protection
of the legal authorities,

elected by popular will.

You wish to give
as special protection to your child,

citizen Lazare Stephane

and citizen Davis Lucie
as godparents,

who accept the responsibility,
should his parents ever fail him.

May he respect
democratic institutions,

develop necessary moral,
human and civic qualities,

so that when he comes of age,
he may become...

a citizen with ideals
of brotherhood, understanding,

respect for freedom
and solidarity for his fellow men.

Gentlemen,

today we have launched an offensive

against Forts lssy and Vanves.

Both must be neutralized

for us to begin the siege
from the other side of the Seine.

lf the Fort lssy doesn't fall
at the start of the offensive,

the risk,
because of its dominating position,

is that it may rake the besiegers.

The Fort Vanves
must also be silenced,

as it can bring artillery support
to its neighbour.

Once the two forts are neutralized,

the main attack
shall aim for the south-west angle

of the defence line

at the Point du Jour,
where the wall is weakest.

Gentlemen of the press?

ls it true that you plan
to bombard Paris?

No sir, absolutely not.

lt is a bombardment?

No sir, the artillery
has never bombarded Paris.

lt has simply fired a few shells!

Anyhow, the situation is simple.

l am currently working
with a private corps of engineers

who are setting up
a battery on the hill,

to reduce Fort lssy to silence.

So that our troops may enter
through the Point du Jour.

l created the Paris ramparts,

l should know how to destroy them.

We have Mr. Hoffman,
assistant

to the Plenipotentiary Minister
for the USA in Paris, on the line.

The US legation
is the only foreign representation

in Paris, not with the government
in Versailles.

Mr. Hoffman, can you explain
your country's position?

Yes, Minister Washburne believes

that our interests
would be better served

by staying in Paris.

So we'll remain here
despite the danger.

But do you truly sense danger?

The legation was hit by shrapnel
20 feet from my office.

Yesterday,
according to the Minister,

the Arc de Triomphe
was hit 27 times.

Have there been many casualties?

Yes, l believe so, but
l don't have any reliable figures.

There are casualties
among the civilians.

Just yesterday
a 70 year-old lady

lost both her legs due to shell fire
at the entrance of a church.

Even if one cannot predict
the outcome

of the unhappy events unfolding...

we may hope
that individuals won't suffer

from the excesses of the looters

which the Commune
carries in its wake,

because they're too busy
fighting at the front.

The arrests of some clergy

and the looting of a few coffers

seem to quench their thirst.

Mr. De Gobineau had to abandon
his flat on Josephine St.,

shells were falling there.

Paris is undergoing
a real revolution.

Can you tell us what's happening
in Algeria?

Let's be honest here!

Since the French army arrived

in Algeria in 1 830,
their only aim has been

to plunder the country's wealth.

lt's true!

lt began
with confiscation of properties,

and dispossession of land,
and ended with deprival of rights.

The Algerian citizen
is reduced to slavery.

The loss of his identity!

What can people do?
Everything's been taken from them.

He was over there...

He just returned from Algeria.

People were being killed there,
massacred.

They were shelling everywhere.
They broke into homes.

He says that the repression
was terrible.

He confirms what's just been said

about the dispossession
of the land...

and the repression.

He fled.

He managed to flee?

Yes, but it wasn't easy.

The uprising has spread.
From east to west.

Especially in the east because...

But our comrade is saying
the repression is ruthless.

Villages being burned.

Over there for example...

His brother had his land stolen.

People are being killed,
we must react.

My family for example, they've
been merchants for centuries.

They stole their land
and their property.

Do you think that's normal?
We must resist...

this injustice.

The land is no longer ours,
but the wheat is.

The bread you eat
comes from our wheat.

l've been travelling
around the world for years.

l went to poor countries,
Algeria, Africa.

l saw lands
plundered by colonization.

How they plunder people and culture
in those countries.

And today? Money circulates
and rules the world.

Goods circulate.

But the people from poor countries
are denied entry.

''They tell them:
''''Stop, no entry.''

''''''We'll rob you,
but you can't come in.''''''

- That's true!
- We must fight against that.

They deny our right to our culture,
they want to wipe it out.

On March 1 8, 1 996,

''350 ''''illegal aliens''''
from a Montreuil hostel''

occupy St. -Ambroise Church
to denounce the state's refusal

to regularize
their administrative situation.

Mgr Lustiger, Archbishop of Paris,
visits the occupants,

''to voice his ''''solicitude''''
and the ''''mercy'''' of his Church.''

The next day,
the religious authorities

ask the Home Office to eject them.

They justify lifting
the inviolability of holy places,

on the excuse of a foreign cult
practising in the Church.

March 24, state security
police invade the building

with a violence and force
usually reserved for hijackings.

Men, women and children
are brutally evacuated.

''A victory for terminology: the media
now speak of the ''''paper-less''''.''

Battalion, on my command.
Attention!

There's a preparatory
and an executory command.

A preparatory command
prepares for what's next. At ease!

Attention!

Citizens, hello.
lt is the 1 1 th of April,

a new National Guard Battalion
leaves for the front.

We remind you of the headlines:

Thiers attacks Paris,
shells hit the Arc de Triomphe,

but troop morale is good.

We now speak with Agnes Noiret,
whom we met a few days ago.

lt's hard for us to cover
both the events, the interviews,

and keep you informed
of decisions at the Town Hall.

Your husband's still at the front?

- For 3 days.
- You know where?

No, l have no news at all.
l'm really worried.

All l know is there are many dead.

l must try to find out...

How will you do this?

l was told to go to the Legion.

The children must be told something.

lt's so hard.

Thank you. Good luck!

To counter unceasing rumours
of defeat and panic,

the Commune has banned
Versailles oriented newspapers

advocating private property
and social hierarchy.

The reactionary press
slanders the Commune.

That's why information such as ours
is so important.

Journalists query the bannings,

''''''Cri du Peuple'''':''

''''''We can resort to common law
for liars and agitators,''

''''''but we demand
absolute liberty of the press.''''''

''''''Pere Duchene'''':''

''''''The revolution is solid enough
to let our foes write against it.''

''''''Freedom for all, including our
enemies, will prove our strength.''''''

On the pretext of war,

censorship will shut down

''not only
30 ''''reactionary'''' newspapers,''

but also certain
critical pro-Commune papers,

''such as Jean-Baptiste Milliere's
''''La Commune''''.''

Mark time.

March!

We whose lamps are lit
With the crowing of the cock

We whose poverty
Drags us to the anvil before dawn

We who struggle endlessly
With our entire being

With no shelter
From the cold and old age

Let us love each other
And if we may, unite

To share a drink

Whether the cannon
ls silent or roaring

Let us drink!

Let us drink!

To universal independence!

Let us love each other
And if we may, unite

To share a drink

Whether the cannon
ls silent or roaring...

Listen!

l wish to announce the birth
of the Women's Union

for the Defence of Paris
and Care for the Wounded,

under the presidency
of citizen Elisabeth Dmitrieff.

The aim of the Women's Union is
to rally the working women of Paris,

to unite in support of the Commune

in its struggle
against all tyrannies.

Long live the Commune!

We must mobilize quickly

because Paris and the Homeland
are in danger.

lt's not foreigners
invading France. No.

The French are slaying
people and liberty!

They are the privileged,

all those who profit
from our hunger, our struggle,

our sweat, our misery.

We want no more masters
and exploiters,

but government for the people
and well-being for all.

We want work, to profit from it,

and become free human beings.

Citizens, we must act fast.

We must get organized

to help our husbands, sons
and brothers who have left to fight,

but we must also
protect the Commune

and end the slavery
we've endured for so long.

Long live freedom!

The Commune doesn't depend only
on those at the Town Hall,

but also on us,

on our will to build a world
and a future that belong to us.

Each District must have
its own local committee.

l invite you to form the Women's
Union of the 1 1 th District.

The Town Hall
should be giving us a room soon.

The next meeting place and date
will be posted by tomorrow.

l'd like to see the Legion officers.

What for?

l'm seeking news of my husband
who's in the National Guard.

The Guard? Where exactly?

The 66th Battalion.

l'll go ask.

A lady wants information about
her husband who's at the front.

Fine, tell her to wait.

l come from Neuilly bridge,
we've been holding for days.

l sent couriers for reinforcements:
no reply. What's going on?

Captain,
we receive 50 to 60 couriers a day,

and we've got no time to answer.
Just wait!

The men are demoralized.
We're isolated.

lf your men didn't take orders

from the Town Hall,
without our permission...

Orders are here, we're in charge.

l need men in good shape, equipped.

You'll get
the 1 38th Battalion tomorrow.

Unless the Sub-Committee
use it for parade.

You want efficiency? You'll get it.

General Cluseret
gave very precise instructions.

From now on, all Battalion captains
must arrest draft dodgers.

Start right now.

Here's an order for Berco,
rue Folie-Mericourt.

Hope for support like this?

You'll keep order in your Battalion.

We'll establish a disciplinary
committee. Tell the men

who miss roll-call
there'll be no pay. Dismissed!

People won't like the Commune
this way!

Let the citizen in.

Citizens, l need 3 guards

to fetch a guy called Lucien Berco,
34, Folie-Mericourt.

l'm looking for my husband.

He's in the 66th Battalion.

What company?

D Company.

- What Battalion?
- 66th.

- Your husband's name?
- Jean Lebert.

At which front?

l don't know.

ln Asnieres. l thinks he's there.

- Let's see, Lebel...
- Lebert.

l think it's Asnieres.

On a proposal by citizen Jourde,
finance Delegate:

To widows, married or not,
of Guards killed in action

for the people's defence,
a 600 franc pension

and 375 francs for the children,
legitimate or not,

after an enquiry
establishing these rights.

l have here a declaration
from a group of women:

''''''The gauntlet is down,
we must conquer or die.''

''''''Let those who say, 'what good is
victory if l lose those l love', ''

''''''be persuaded that the only way
to save those you love, ''

''''''is to take part in the struggle.''''''

The Commune makes an appeal
on behalf of schools.

All interested citizens are invited
to present themselves,

with documents, at the Town Hall
Education Commission.

Two days after the next scene,

Agnes Noiret will find her husband,
dead, at an ambulance post.

She will receive a widow's pension
for herself and her children,

as decreed by the Commune
on April 1 1.

We're back from the Legion,
they didn't know.

- No news?
- l said he left days ago.

l could come with you
to the Sub-Committee...

if that's OK with you?

- Can you take the kids?
- Leave them with me.

Shall we go? l know where it is.

Kids, you stay with me.

Hello, citizens.

We're looking
for citizen Lucien Berco.

- Don't know him.
- l was told he lives here, no?

Fair-haired?

34, Folie-Mericourt.
No Berco?

Over there,
in the house across the street.

On the ground floor.

And you, citizen Theron, watch out.

You're not with us yet,
it'll be your turn soon.

E. Theron, the jeweller,
will be taken for questioning,

but released with the advance
of the Versailles army.

The Therons will shelter a Communard
during the Bloody Week.

They will be denounced
by a neighbour,

and executed
by a Government firing squad.

This is war, we must stick together!

Citizen Berco, come out of there!

We know you're there!

Shall we try the other door?

- What is it?
- lt's for the Sub-Committee.

- Who?
- Sub-Committee.

And who are you?

- 1 1 th Legion officers.
- You blind?

lt's the Legion,
for the Sub-Committee...

What's going on here?

- Leave me alone!
- What's she done?

l'm the law here,
l ask the questions. Let us through.

The Paris police fled Paris
after the insurrection,

often leaving their wives behind
to take care of the furniture.

This is the case
for Leontine Rombert,

arrested with other citizens
for secret dealings with the enemy.

End of part 1