Director Paul Greengrass has brought his distinctive handheld cinematography, often dubbed “shaky cam,” to a new historical drama chronicling the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt in England. Known for his immersive visual style in contemporary films such as the “Bourne” series and “Captain Phillips,” Greengrass applies the technique to a medieval setting in his latest project, “The Uprising,” which he both wrote and directed.
Set against the backdrop of a society ravaged by plague and entrenched in severe class inequality, the film follows a ploughman, portrayed by Andrew Garfield, who becomes swept up in a popular rebellion. England’s population has been halved by disease, resources are tightly controlled by a small elite, and the peasantry faces oppressive taxation enforced with harsh measures. Against this landscape, the narrative unfolds through a mix of visual storytelling and naturalistic performances, emphasizing the chaos and confusion of the uprising itself over traditional historical exposition.
The film also features Woody Norman as the young King Richard II, whose reign is influenced by a manipulative council and a watchful mother played by Katherine Waterston. The rebel forces include figures such as Wat Tyler, a former soldier played by Cosmo Jarvis, and John Ball, a radical priest portrayed by Jamie Bell. As the mob—armed with makeshift weapons—marches on London demanding redress, Greengrass presents their actions without overt moral judgment, framing the revolt as an inevitable response to systemic oppression.
Andrew Garfield’s ploughman serves as the audience’s lens into the turmoil, evolving from a passive observer into a participant radicalized by the treachery and violence surrounding him. The film’s tone remains largely neutral while ultimately suggesting that, despite its failure, the revolt underscores the enduring value of freedom. Supporting performances include Thomasin McKenzie as Alyce, a traumatized young woman who aligns herself with Garfield’s character, and Norman’s increasingly menacing portrayal of the king adds depth to the power struggles depicted.
“The Uprising” aims to connect past and present by echoing contemporary social tensions through the lens of history. Greengrass emphasizes the contradictions inherent in a rebellion that is at once loyal to a divinely ordained monarch yet driven by demands for justice and change. While the film’s middle section has been noted for its narrative complexity, the stark opening and closing sequences, combined with powerful performances, anchor the story in a visceral, immediate experience.
By situating the 1381 revolt within a cinematic tradition of grounded, intense storytelling, Greengrass delivers a portrayal that highlights both the brutality and the humanity of this pivotal moment, ultimately affirming the revolutionary spirit as a response to injustice.