At the heart of The Uprising is serious business. The 1381 Peasants’ Revolt was no joke; and Andrew Garfield’s central character, an unnamed ploughman, is someone pushed beyond breaking point, having lost his wife and children to the plague, fighting back against the tyrannical Richard II (Woody Norman) when raised taxes threaten to squeeze the life out of him and his fellow working class people. But the latest film from Paul Greengrass looks to be a cinematic ride too – taking that topic and making it a screen spectacle.
“I think if you watch the film, it’s a rip-roaring adventure, but it’s also got something to say without hitting you over the head,” the filmmaker tells Empire, promising a good time at the movies. “I don’t like doing films that are lectures. I want them to be entertaining.” It is also, seemingly, something of a Robin Hood story; while Peasants’ Revolt figure Wat Tyler is here – played by Cosmo Jarvis – The Uprising is also somewhat inspired by William Langland’s 1377 poem Piers Plowman, which represents “the fevered dreams, hopes, fears, and enragements of a common farmer,” says Greengrass. “It was also very interesting to me that it is the first moment the character of Robin Hood appears in print”.
Preparing for his Ploughman role, Garfield watched Robin Hood movies, as well as 2010 horror Black Death, and Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. Greengrass is thrilled with what the pair have pulled off together. “It was a hard, physical, ambitious film to make with limited resources, and I’m very, very proud of what Andrew achieved,” says the director. “It’s a really outstanding performance.” Here’s hoping the Ploughman hits a bullseye.
Read Empire’s full The Uprising feature in the Digger issue, on sale Thursday August 17. Pre-order a copy online here. The Uprising comes to UK cinemas on October 9.
