Marat/Sade : Directed by Peter Brook (1967) Written by Peter Weiss

Of all the movies I went to see at the Parkway, this was my favorite.

It is based on a play by Peter Weiss - a German/Swiss writer and artist.

In the play, the Marquis de Sade is in an insane asylum and he writes a play about the assassination of Jean Paul Marat.  The play thus gives Sade an opportunity to present a type of philosophical dialogue between himself and the murdered Marat.

You watch the movie as if you are in the audience of the insane asylum watching the play.

Basically the dialogue concerns whether it is meaningful to take social action to change things that are wrong (among other topics).  de Sade represents a type of hedonism or even pessimistic defeatism (as if there is no such thing as 'social perfection') and Marat a type of idealistic social activism. 

It's a complex play - I am not sure I like everything about Brook's directing.  The movie/acting can seem a bit melodramatic.  I loved the music when I was younger. Overall it's worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJc4I6pivqg