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Relentlessly exciting
'Danton' a gripping, relevant film
Wednesday, February 29, 1984The Daily Tar Heel5
By JEFF GROVE
Arts Editor
The Polish authorities should have known better than to
allow Andrzej Wajda to film Danton, a piercing look at the
darkest years of the French Revolution.
Parallels between France in 1793 and Poland today abound.
Food rationing, domestic" spying, censorship and dictatorship
are common to both settings. Wajda, who documented the
Polish labor movement in Man of Marble (1977) and Man of
Iron (1981), could hardly be counted on to ignore the
similarities.
Review
While Danton, based on Stanislawa Przybyszewska's play
The Danton Affair, has not been shown in Poland in the two
years since it was made, it has circulated in the West to a
deservedly tumultuous acclaim.
Wajda's film cannily explores the self-destructive elements of
revolutionary movements. What amounts to a political embar
rassment to Poland's General Wojciech Jaruzelski emerges as a
gripping, relevant historical drama.
The film opens in France in 1793, with the French Revolution
well-established so well-established, in fact, that it has
already begun to crumble under the weight of its own internal
conflicts.
Maximillien Robespierre has consolidated his faction's
power, only to face a new threat in the return to Paris of
Georges Danton.
Danton's formerly extremist politics have moderated, and he
wants to restore peace to France by reconciling the Revolu
tionary leaders with each other. The power in Danton's ideas is
that the people of France support him.
From there, the Danton-Robesplerre conflict escalates to the
point where a tragic outcome is inevitable.
While the audience can't help but sympathize with Danton,
Wajda himself is in no way partisan. He observes objectively,
pointing out Danton's childish nature as quickly as
Robespierre's icy bloodletting.
As Danton, Gerard Depardieu, the rage of French cinema
and the star of the highly successful The Return of Martin
Guerre, squarely encapsulates the charisma and boyish charm
that win Danton popular favor.
Squaring off with Depardieu in Danton s best scenes,
Wojciech Pszoniak plays Robespierre as a calculating power
grabber. Pszoniak tempers this, however, with genuine integri
ty. Robespierre may be a despot, but he is not unscrupulous. As
he says, no one not even Danton is above the law.
Pszoniak's striking physical resemblance to Gen. Jaruzelski,
by the way, has been the subject of critical comment from the
' first; it could not be unintentional.
The strongest supporting performance comes from Patrice
Chereau as the pro-Danton journalist Camille Desmoulins.
Chereau, the enfant terrible of the French theatre, makes his
film acting debut with alacrity. His Desmoulins has strong con
victions but must learn to stand up for them.
In other roles, Anne Alvaro's subtlety enlightens the part of
Eleonore Duplay, Robespierre's servant, while Serge Merlin's
maxim-spouting Danton disciple is a poignant portrait. Angela
Winkler tugs the viewer's emotions with her role -as Desmoulins'
wife. Boguslaw Linda's portrayal of Robespierre follower Saint
Just is top-notch.
All of Danton's participants get a solid assist from script
writer Jean-Claude Carriere, who also wrote such films as Belle
de Jour, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, That Obscure
Object of Desire and The Return of Martin Guerre.
Just as the inquest in Martin Guerre was the high point of that
film, Danton's trial before the Revolutionary Tribunal, which
he himself founded, provides the climax for Danton. Carriere's
writing in this scene is deeply felt, giving Depardieu strong
material for his grandstanding appeals to the public.
As if the graphic guillotining of Danton, Desmoulins and two
others were not wrenching enough a finale, Wajda throws in.
one final ironic twist.
Throughout the film, Eleonore has been coaching her baby
brother as he memorizes the new French constitution. At the
moment when Danton is executed, Robespierre lies in bed rack
ed with a fever as the boy proudly but hesitantly recites to
Robespierre the now-meaningless code of liberty, equality and
fraternity. Wajda finds no need to show or tell the fact that Robespierre
himself was beheaded two months later. The defeated, ex
hausted expression on Robespierre's face as he pulls his sheet
over his head tells all and provides a fitting conclusion to this
relentlessly exciting film.
Danton is most impressive, however, because it is not merely,
a costume drama. In addressing disturbing themes relevant to
current politics, the film rises to the level of timelessness.
Jackson
wins record 8
Grammys
From Staff and Wire Reports
LOS ANGELES Michael Jackson
waltzed into the record books Tuesday
night, picking up an unprecedented
eight prizes at the 26th annual National
Academy of Recording Arts and
Sciences awards.
Jackson's major awards included
both Record of the Year "Beat It" and
Album of the Year "Thriller."
Jackson also won awards for best
R&B song and best male R&B vocal
(both for "Billie Jean"), best male rock
vocal ("Beat It"), best male pop vocal
(for the Thriller album) and producer of
the year, an award Jackson shared with
Quincy Jones.
Perhaps the most interesting victory
for Jackson was in' the category of best
children's recording. The award went to
E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial, which
Jackson narrated. In accepting the
award, album producer Quincy Jones
said, "I don't thank the people who
kept this album from coming out,"
referring to a move by the CBS and
Epic record companies which blocked
the planned release ,;of E.T. The
Extra- Terrestrial until well after the
release of Jackson's mega-hit Thriller.
The Police racked up four awards to
take secondary honors. "Every Breath'
You Take" was named Song of the
Year, and landed the group a mention
as best group pop Vocal. The album
Synchronicity garnered the award- for
best group rock performance, and lead
singer Sting won the award for best rock
instrumental performance for his title
track for the film Brimstone & Treacle.
. Pat Benatar was named best female
rock vocalist for the fourth year in a
row.
Irene Cara's performance of
"Flashdance ... What a Feeling" was
named best female pop vocal, and
George Benson's Being With You"
was cited as best instrumental pop per
formance. Confusion arose over the award for
best show cast album. Ann Miller and
Mickey Rooney served as presenters,
and Rooney announced the recording
of the score for Cats as the winner. But
Miller then asked, "Is there anyone
from La Cage aux Folles here? You
won." Master of ceremonies John
Denver, later clarified that Cats had in
deed won.
The Culture Club was named best
'new artist.' In a live speech transmitted
by satellite from London, lead singer
Boj George said, "Thank you,
America. You've got taste, style, and
you know a good drag queen when you
see one."
In an interesting cross-over,
trumpeter Wynton Marsalis won best
instrumental solo awards in both the
jazz and classical categories.
Conductor Sir Georg Solti picked up
four classical awards, giving him a.
lifetime total of 23 Grammys and
ousting previous record-holder Henry
Mancini, whose total to date is 20.
Ella Fitzgerald was named best
female jazz vocalist for The Best Is Yet
to Come, and Mel Torme won the
award for best male jazz vocalist for
Top Drawer. The Manhattan Transfer
won an award for best duo or group
vocal for Why Not!
Anne Murray, Lee Greenwood and
Alabama won country awards for best
female, male and group vocal perfor
mance, respectively.
Graduate student art shows on exhibit
By ARLAINE ROCKEY
Staff Writer
The Graduate Student Show now on
exhibit in the gallery of the Art
Classroom Studio Building is composed
of eight pieces, one from each of the first
year graduate students in the UNC
department of art's Master of Fine Arts
program.
First-year students spend five to seven
hours a day working in their own studios.
ArtSchooVs 'Sensual' film series to begin March 8
By ED BRACKETT
Staff Writer
. Carrboro's ArtSchool will present two
films both foreign, both comedies
in its "Films Most Sensual" series, which
begins March 8.
The first of these, Eu TeAmo J Love
You), comes from Brazilian director Ar
naldo Jabor and stars that country's hot
test sex symbol, Sonia Braga.
Eu Te Amo chronicles the sexcapades
of Maria (Braga) and Paulo (Paulo Cesar
Pereio), including their unusual first en
counter on the streets of Rio de Janeiro.
Recently jilted by her lover, Maria
Gallery seeks
wpjks for show
.:. . - ' '.' - -' -"
The ArtSchool is seeking work by ar
tists interested in exhibiting at the Art
School gallery in Carr Mill Mall. Artists
should submit slides of their work for
consideration to:
Gallery Director
ArtSchool
Carr Mill
. Carrboro, NC 27510 .
For more information, call 929-2896.
vents her frustration by briefly pretending
to be a prostitute in public. Paulo,
similarly dumped by his lover, becomes
Maria's first customer.
But Maria's charade soon becomes
reality, and before long the two of them
are romping around Paulo's posh pad,
much in the same manner as Marlon
Brando and Maria Schneider in Last
Tango in Paris.
Maria and Paulo get metaphysical as
well as physical, discussing needs, past
lovers and philosophies as Maria tries to
cheer Paulo's depressed spirits which
isn't easy, because his business acumen
(as the manager of a brassiere factory), in
addition to a fulfilling love life, has thus
far eluded him.
The second film, Montenegro, though
set and filmed in Sweden, contains
English dialogue. (Eu Te Amo is in Por
tuguese with English subtitles.)
Montenegro involves depressed
housewife Marilyn's (American actress
Susan Anspach) search for excitement in
the absence of her husband (Erland
Josephson), whose job as a ball bearing
salesman requires frequent international
jaunts.
Unfullfilled desires and a stultifying
domestic life push Marilyn over the
psychological edge, and she falls into the
company of a rowdy gathering of
Yugoslav gypsies. She cuts loose at the
Zanzi-Bar, the Yugoslavs' nightclubbisn
meeting place, where she meets and falls
in love with Montenegro (Svetozar
Cvetkovic), a young laborer.
Montenegro director Dusan
Makavejev, a savage satirist, "uses sur
realist comedy to make you stumble . . .
into an awareness of hidden realities,",
wrote Newsweek's Jack Kroll shortly
after the film's release in 1981.
Eu Te Amo will be shown on March 8
at 7:15 and 9:15 p.m. Montenegro will be
shown on March 22 at 7:15 and 9:15 p.m.
For more details, call the ArtSchool at
929-2896.
TEI2.CCGVC7
Livi::a
PUBLICITY
Carolina Union
Activities Board feOJ
Applications at yZh
Union Desk
r ...Now! T fcT
Annual meetings of the North Carolina Democratic Party will be
held at every polling place across the state on Thursday evening
at 8 p.m. Registered democrats will vote on the party platform
and resolutions, and elect delegates to County, District and
District Conventions. Some campus precincts will organize stu
dent precinct committees this year all students registered to
vote in local elections are welcome at Fetzer Gym, Holy Trinity
Lutheran Church or UNC General Admin. Bldg.
JUNIOR EXECS
ARE YOU NEW IN THE JOB MARKET?
Starts $17,200-$24,100 increasing annually to $28, 600-$44,800 in
four years.
QUALIFICATIONS
College grads, all degrees and degree levels considered. Recent
grads looking for first job as well as those contemplating a job
change (under age 28) are encouraged to apply. Required to pass
mental and physical exams.
BENEFITS
Full medical, dental, unlimited sick leave, 30 days annual paid vaca
tion, post grad education programs and retirement in 20 years!
JOB
Positions are still available in the following areas: Management
(technical and non-technical), Engineering, Nuclear, Teaching, Intel
ligence, Aviation Management Diving, Pilots, Finance, Personnel
Management. Worldwide locationswe pay relocation expenses.
If you are interested in finding out more, see the Navy Officer Programs
Team, they'll be on campus 14 March at the Student Union. If you
can't make it, send your resume or transcripts to: "
ROYSARVIS
U.S. NAVY OFFICER PROGRAMS
1001 Navaho Dr., Raleigh, NC 27609
or call 1-800-662-7231 9 am-3 pm, Mon.-Thurs.
An Evening With
CHUCK
MANGIONE
And
The Chuck Mangione Quartet
Saturday March 24
Memorial Hall
8:00 pm
All seats reserved $9.00
Tickets on sale
Union Box Office,
Monday, February 27
MAKE
CMOS
f
j
St. Patrick'? Day
Saturday, March 17
Memorial Hall
8:00 pm
Tickets
Available Hour
$5.00 for UNC students
$6.50 for general public
$7.50 day of show
AT UNION BOX OFFICE
IOC JraCyll
i 9
r . -'- -nil mi m i in r i n -n 11 - - ' -
Dr. Ken A. Gregg Dr. Rob Cushing
128 East Franklin Street (The Franklin Center)
Chapel Hill - 929-4733
Offer expire March 15. 1984 '
Besides available electives, they take an
art theory course in which they "share
ideas and have discussions about where
art "is going today' said. Harriette
Diamond, one of the first-year students.
on paper screams with trauma and
hysterics.
From a blue squawking chicken with
skinny, brange bird legs, to a woman's
yellow body, green face and fiery orange-
Diamond's piece, titled Dogl6, is the ' red hair to the rooster with an orange-red
highlight of the exhibition. Diamond has
created a sculpture of a life-sized "skinny
hound dog" out of painted chicken wire.
The sculpture captures the viewer's im
mediate attention with its realism.
One of the other notable pieces in the
show is Jay Gibson's untitled line draw
ing. This piece; done with black ink
marker on white paper, sports a broken
hanger" above "two coils of movement
shaped like Slinky toys. Framed in silver
metal, it is modernist in its simplicity and
preciseness.
Just the opposite is true of Jane
Robinson-Filer's scrambling in her paint
ing Spare Me the Gutter. Brightly col
ored and cluttered, this oil painting done
crown that mimics the woman, the paint
ing is wrought with chaos. There are also
a person squeezing the rooster and what
looks like a human leg torn off at the
knee, as well as a pink devil and a masked
face in the background. The justification
of all this chaos can only be found in the
title.
The example of just these three pieces
shows that the Graduate Student Show is
diverse in subject matter and in media.
The gallery is open daily from noon to 5
p.m. . ,
The second-year graduate students will
have their work shown in an upcoming
exhibition at the Ackland Art Museum.
That show will be on view April 6-23.
1 m"iw f
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Educational Center
TEST PREPARATION
SPECIALISTS SINCE 1938
Call Days Evenings & Weekends
li, , .2643 Chapel Hill Blyd.
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 489-8720489-2348
or
1-800-672-5919
utfvy
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