Director Mike Leigh’s film covers the true-life events that took place in St Peter’s Field, Manchester, in 1819. Radical orator Henry Hunt was speaking to a crowd of around 80,000 people, eager for democratic reform.
British government forces charged the demo and tried to arrest Hunt. More cavalry men charged – 15 people were killed and several injured.
This is a short teaser, though it’s quite emotional as the crowd starts chanting “Liberty or Death! Liberty or Death!” while the cavalrymen in their gold-braided red jackets try to control jittery horses.
Leigh’s film stars Rory Kinnear as Hunt, and co stars Maxine Peake. It is released in the UK on 2 November and the US on 9 November.
Leave a Reply