Whether you studied the Great Uprising of 1381, sometimes referred to as the Peasant’s Revolt, at school or not, the trailer for Andrew Garfield’s new historical action-drama will have you geared up for a lesson.
Directed by Paul Greengrass, The Uprising follows one of the defining moments of English radicalism in history, when the commoners staged a rebellion against the tyranny of 14-year-old King Richard II. The Black Death had halved the population of England. The Hundred Years’ War was draining the country’s coffers. And the monarchy leaned on an already lean feudal system, heavily taxing common folk to pay for a war in a country far away. They’d had enough.
In the film, Garfield plays a farmer who becomes a key figure in the Uprising, alongside real legendary leaders Wat Tyler (Cosmo Jarvis) and John Ball (Jamie Bell). We don’t have many screen depictions of the revolt, aside from a 1969 film starring Anthony Hopkins. So Greengrass’ The Uprising is a rare insight into a pivotal moment for social resistance in British history, of the common people finding their voice. But it didn’t come without cost.
Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, Woody Norman, Katherine Waterston, and Sky Yang also star.
The Uprising hits cinemas Sept. 11.
