¶ … movie, Danton, was scripted by Andrzej Wajda, a man who knew enough about nationalism and ideology to be caustic about so-called Revolutionary enterprises. The struggle between Danton and Robespierre, centerpiece and stuff of Danton translates these views into reality. Transferring his attention to France, Wajda indicates that Revolutions are not as mythical or as idealistic as we tend to think them to be. Rather, the stuff of myths, closely examined, turns out to be the stuff of human mortality where humans, striving for power and control, battle each other over their various ambitions and jealousies. Ultimately, Revolutions revolve around psychology rather than ideology, and Wajda's heroes, Danton and Robespierre, demonstrate this truism in their animosity and struggle. Dante and Robespierre are two of the French Revolution's most titanic figures. The scene occurs in the spring of 1794, five years after the collapse of the Bastille, and shortly following the institution for the Committee of Public Safety and the Revolutionary Tribunal by the revolutionary in order to quell internal and external enemies, the bourgeois / aristocracy, and spies. Money and military personnel were needed and thus occurred the Reign of Terror during which scores of prominent people were murdered -- all 'enemies of the state -- including, most famously the liberal Duc d'Orleans and queen of France, Marie Antoinette. Leaders of this Revolutionary council and prominent in the revolution were the two figures: Dante and Robespierre.

Dante and Robespierre may have had similar responsibilities but their personalities and perspective on the revolution differed. Whilst Robespierre believed that 'terror is nothing other than authority in place but an unfettered dictatorship, a battle of wills soon began with leading individuals seeking to assume the 'driver's seat' of a wildly careening country. It was in this way that Robespierre soon turned his attention on Danton and his faction.
Wajda emphasizes the nature of the Revolution by spotlighting the conflict between the two men. Even their characters are different -- totally different -- as though to highlight the conflict and in a metaphorical sense as though to pit passionate life against detached and ruthless science. Passionate life seems to be embodied in the hot, sensual, bulky, bombastic and sloppy Dante who emotionally protests against the excesses of the Revolution. He cares for life, shows more of an interest in people and ability to socialize -- he seems more of a 'human being' vibrant in character than Robespierre who, detached, cold, ruthless, sickly, slight, and ascetic personifies the stereotype of Science per excellence. Robespierre claims to be 'incorruptible' and to function exclusively for idealistic motives. His excuse for 'quenching' Danton is…