A human revolution

This is a relatively objective documentary about the French Revolution, presumably produced before History Channel decided that pseudo-scientific shows about “ancient aliens” were more lucrative. Only humans have been included on this program, and no UFO interference in the dramatic and frequently bloody events of the revolution is alleged.

The initial section of the documentary covers the background to the French revolution: the famines and the fiscal crisis, the lack of real democracy, the nobility's sabotage of all reform proposals, King Louis XVI's constant indecision, and the notorious jet set living of Queen Marie Antoinette. While she never actually said “let them eat cakes”, it does capture her general attitude. The ideas of the Enlightenment are mentioned as an additional factor behind the revolution. An ironic fact I didn't know about previously, is that Maximilien Robespierre and Louis XVI actually met before the revolution during a royal visit to the law school where the future Jacobin leader was enrolled!

Most of the documentary focuses on Robespierre, Jean-Paul Marat, the Reign of Terror and the power struggles between the revolutionaries and the king. The Girondists and the revolt in the Vendée are mentioned only in passing. Lafayette and Paine are not mentioned at all. The documentary stops right after “Thermidor” and the execution of Robespierre, with a certain Napoleon Bonaparte still lurking in the background…

Perhaps it's inevitable that a 100 minute program on the French Revolution gives Robespierre centre stage, but the story nevertheless feels somewhat incomplete. That being said, it's still a good introduction to the subject, and well worth watching. “The French Revolution” seems to exist in several different versions. The one I watched had a female narrator. Surprisingly, one of the “talking heads” interviewed is Alan Woods, the leader of the British-based International Marxist Tendency (IMT) and a supporter of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. I suppose he was included for balance, since the historians interviewed are more critical to the Jacobins or the revolution itself.

An interesting question (as in “may you live in interesting times”) is whether or not the French revolution will repeat itself, since the world – despite all the heady official optimism – is heading for a very severe crisis. The crucial difference between 1789 and 2015 is presumably that today, even the “Third Estate” eats cake. What kind of oath they will swear when peak oil, climate change and overpopulation bankrupts their pastry shop, is a frightening thing to contemplate. Robespierre may have been a crazy ultraleft, but I suspect the next revolution will be headed by somebody like Le Pen. If that's a good thing, is another matter entirely.

I suppose we can always ask those friendly space aliens to save us…