193. The Young Karl Marx (Le Jeune Karl Marx); movie review

THE YOUNG KARL MARX (LE JEUNE KARL MARX)
Cert TBA
118 mins
BBFC advice: TBA

Time for a bit of a history refresher and an idea of the inspiration for Jeremy Corbyn and his Labour Party acolytes.
Karl Marx may be a dirty word in some circles but, in his day, revolution was needed to stop the exploitation of the masses.
Whether his politics are relevant today is a much more contentious question.
Mind you, I couldn't helping thinking throughout Roaul Peck's film of the irony that Marx had barely done a hard day's work in his life.
Isn't it ever thus? Those who shout loudest for working people would be unlikely to recognise real labour even if it came up and tapped them on the shoulder.
Anyway, August Diehl plays the title character who is pushed around Europe by authorities who are incensed by his writings and speeches which stir the proletariat towards rebellion or even revolution.
His wife, Jenny (Vicky Krieps) is seen to play a key role of support although, interestingly, if there was mention of her aristocratic background, I missed it.
Meanwhile, Stefan Konarske portrays Friedrich Engels, the son of a factory owner, who, despite their initial mistrust, becomes an ally of the working class and Marx's collaborator.
Peck's movie is an encapsulation of the early years of the Marx/Engels partnership and outlines the uneasy relationship they had with other working class leaders as well as the establishment.
As said, The Young Karl Marx is an opportune release when set against the current political scenario in the UK.
It also enables the audience to understand the foundation for much of the rhetoric of the unions and left-wing political leaders more than 150 years later, although I am not sure what Marx or Engels would have made of the huge salaries of union leaders.
But I didn't feel it rammed home the wretchedness of the plight of the working class in 19th century Europe powerfully enough.
Adults and children died because of the grinding exploitation of factory owners and the awfulness of their working and living conditions.
This is hinted at but the film has more top hats than tuberculosis.
In other words The Young Karl Marx gives a intriguing taste of life at the time of the industrial revolution and the birth of trade unionism but that is all.
However, I hope there is an The Old Karl Marx to make this history complete and maybe it should be made a tad more gritty.

Reasons to watch: An intriguing telling of the early days of Marxism
Reasons to avoid: It leaves unanswered historical questions

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: Yes
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7/10

Director quote - Roaul Peck: "How do you answer to this worldwide ignorance? How do you come back to the fundamentals? That beginning of the story is the industrial revolution."

The big question - Is Marx's philosophy relevant today?

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