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Comrades

1987, Movie, NR, 180 mins

Comrades: Review

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A meticulously detailed film set in the 1830s, COMRADES tells the story of the "Tolpuddle Martyrs," a group of English farm laborers who formed a union in the hope of winning higher wages. Soans is the spiritual leader of a Methodist congregation in a small rural community of southwestern England where the laborers are exploited by land owner Stephens and his overseer Melvin. After visiting Hordern in Dorchester, Soans returns to Tolpuddle and founds a secret Society of Friends. A meeting takes place between the workers and Stephens, and the men are promised better pay, but when the time comes to collect it, their wages are even lower. Led by Soans, they begin a strike (to the strains of the traditional song "Eight Shillings a Week"), while the wealthy and the government combine to crush this act of "rebellion." Director Douglas presents his story in painstaking detail. The intricacies of the work, domestic deprivation, and social and spiritual lives of the people of Tolpuddle are well captured. The camera patiently contemplates his carefully composed shots, providing a wealth of visual information about his characters and their lives. However, the wealth of detail can become overwhelming, and events within the narrative are not always clear. The historically faithful story, a cornerstone of the lore of British trade unionism, is compelling. The performances in COMRADES are strong, and though they are accomplished with an ensemble approach, Soans and Gaminara both deserve to be singled out. Fox is memorable in a small role, as is Redgrave, who, as the hardy sheep rancher with flyaway auburn hair, is as lovely as ever. leave a comment
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