Andrew Garfield helms a raw, kinetic, and rousing account of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt.
In England, life for the many has become unbearable after the Black Death, decades of foreign war, and ever-increasing taxes raised by a small elite. When a bereaved ploughman lashes out against them, he starts a conflagration of revolts that spread nationwide: before long, the country has been upended and its future anyone’s to decide.
Writer-director Paul Greengrass (the Bourne sequels, Captain Phillips) uses his expertise with both stripped-down action and historical trauma to retell a major chapter of English history: in his hands, it becomes a ferociously immersive political thriller, and gains a human face through Garfield’s deeply felt performance. Though a key venue of the Revolt, St Albans is sadly absent – indeed, the majority of the film was shot in Germany.
Join us at The Odyssey Cinema for a special screening of Paul Greengrass' The Uprising, introduced by St Albans’ own Professor Tim Boatswain.
Before the film begins, Professor Boatswain will take us back to the summer of 1381, revealing how the Peasants’ Revolt wasn't just national history, as it unfolded right here on our doorstep. From William Grindecobbe leading local townspeople to the Abbey Gate to claim their freedom, to the execution of radical priest John Ball in our city, St Albans played a pivotal role in a movement that shook the nation.
Discover the powerful local history behind the story on screen, and stay with us after the film for an exclusive Q&A with Professor Boatswain.
