How to Evaluate a Historical Feature Film

Some (confusing) criteria historians use in evaluation accuracy of detail use of original documents and interviews consulting with a professional historian type/nationality/looks of actors appropriate music “ poetical and metaphorical ” use of historical details: Robert Rosenstone: anachronisms and “ displaced facts ” are ok, as long as the film ’ s interpretation “ rings true ” as a result (Example: Born on the 4 th of July, where events shown as happening at University of Syracuse actually happened at several other universities.)

Historical film that presents history without anachronism: The Return of Martin Guerre A film about an impostor who takes place of a husband who goes to war. The film takes place in a 16th-century French village. Natalie Zemon Davis, a professional historian of France, consulted on the film. Her book was the basis for the film. But: Natalie Zemon Davis was criticized for her book anyway, because both the book and the movie speculated about the motives behind the wife ’ s acceptance of her fake husband--her critic argued that Davis produced an unverifiable “ feminist ” interpretation

Historical film that aroused protests of French historians despite its historical veracity: Danton (dir. Andrzei Wajda, 1983) A film about the French Revolution, where Danton ’ s execution during the Terror is used as a metaphor for communist repressions in Eastern Europe French historians attacked the film as a misinterpretation of the history of the French Revolution But: Andrzei Wajda was more interested in communism in Poland than in revolutionary France

Historical film comedy that does not try to be factual yet was lauded for authenticity: The Front (dir. Woody Allen, 1976) A film about blacklisted screenwriters in 1950s United States where Woody Allen plays a gambler who submits screenplays written by his blacklisted friends. Nobody expected a comedy to be realistic But: Woody Allen used many actors who were blacklisted during the 1950s so his film is often used by historians teaching McCarthyism

Art Spiegelman, Maus ( )