PETERLOO: Four Years in the Making

Peterloo is a film of voices, speech, reform, and of freedom.

It is Mike Leigh’s thirteenth feature film production and clearly a labor of love for him, his production team, and the army of actors who put their hearts and souls into this powerful work of cinema. Four years in the making, this historical document, as well as paying tribute to those who campaigned for the vote in the 1800s, is also a passionate love letter to Northern England and the proud working classes of the era.

Peterloo begins in 1815 at the battle of Waterloo and then brings us into the factories and streets of Manchester and surrounding Northern areas. As with many Mike Leigh films you can feel the palpable authenticity in the settings, accents, and places the characters live.

Leigh also cuts to local magistrates who hold up the draconian laws designed to keep the poor in their place; handing out savage justice such as the death penalty to one man for stealing a coat. We also visit London and experience those ruling classes who inhabit the Houses of Parliament and Royal palaces, lording it over the oppressed workers.

The character strokes are broad at first before Leigh further develops their personalities. The dialogue is initially delivered formally as the characters educate the audience regarding various laws in place affecting them. This seems jarring but also serves the documentary nature of the piece.

As the narrative strands build steadily to the fateful march the editing throughout cross-cuts between the ruling, working, and legal classes representing their differing perspectives. The march was intended to be a peaceful demonstration; a plea for Parliamentary reform and the desire to be heard. Surely, that’s the right of everyone in a civilised society? Well, not in 1819.

With Peterloo driven by a whole host of wonderfully written speeches, it could be argued, Peterloo, lacks the warmth and humor of Leigh’s other more personal films. However, there are some formidable performances amidst the huge cast. Maxine Peake is earthy and convincing in her representation of a mother struggling to make ends meet.

Rory Kinnear brings intelligence and pride to the confident character of Henry Hunt; a wealthy landowner committed to reform and repeal of the onerous ‘Corn Laws’. As is the case with Leigh’s other films the acting is uniformly impressive because you know months of planning and rehearsal would have been committed to the production.

The film is also shot beautifully by cinematographer Dick Pope. There is a strong leaning toward a naturalistic lighting palette. Interiors are often bathed in sunlight shining through windows onto the shadowed faces of the characters. His camera is placed ideally to capture the rural and industrial locations of the era.

There’s also some wonderful framing within arches and factories. Furthermore, Leigh’s meticulous approach to authenticity reveals the machinery from the time, such as the looms and printing presses. Similarly, you can almost feel the reality of the epoch through the excellent costume design.

The final act brings us to the fateful day itself. Mike Leigh handles the massive crowd scenes expertly and shows the injustice and barbarism brought about by the cavalry and law enforcement attacking up to 80,000 people who are protesting for change.

Having spent a few hours establishing the characters and their relevant causes the emotional impact of the attacks by the ruling classes is palpable. This is ultimately very powerful cinema that echoes historical events where people have been murdered or injured while trying to make their voices heard.

The sheer scale of the filmmaking itself is also impressive even if the narrative lacks a specific personal focus throughout. Mike Leigh’s approach is very clear as it represents the working class as victims of an oppressive regime that has no regard for human suffering. Indeed, it should be every person’s basic right to have a voice, and given past and current social and political events Peterloo contains a message that remains very valid today.