Peterloo

Running time: 153 mins

David vs Goliath. Legendary director Mike Leigh (Topsy Turvey, Mr. Turner) delivers a masterful epic with his sweeping panoramic journey through a little-known moment of England's inglorious past--and a particularly bloody one, at that. Food shortages, diminishing wages, and chronic unemployment dog 19th century Manchester, England, despite its importance as a hub of the Industrial Age. At the center is Henry Hunt (played brilliantly by Rory Kinnear of Penny Dreadful fame), as he inspires people to demand reform only to be met with force. Gracefully juggling the viewpoints of those in power, to the working class, Leigh captivatingly brings to life a time of great change, inspiration, and struggle. A tale that is shocking, alarming, and relevant.