JEFFERSON IN PARIS (1995)
Set in the period 1784–1789, the film portrays Jefferson when he was US minister to France at Versailles before the French Revolution. French liberals and intellectuals hope he will lead them away from the corruption of the court of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette and toward a more democratic form of government. Although deploring the poverty of the common people, he embraces the riches of French culture and civilization. It is his first time abroad, and he takes advantage of the opportunity to extend his knowledge of liberal arts and science while absorbing the refinements France has to offer.
A lonely widower, Jefferson develops a close friendship with Maria Cosway, a beautiful (and married) Anglo-Italian painter and musician. Although she becomes increasingly devoted to him, he is attached to his memory of his late wife, to whom he promised that he would not remarry, and to his two younger daughters. His elder daughter is especially possessive, and Patsy becomes jealous of Maria's influence on her father. Maria becomes his confidant and correspondent, with their personal relationship becoming more affectionate as well.
Later, Jefferson becomes attracted to Sally Hemings, his enslaved maid and companion of his younger daughter Polly. Three-quarters white in ancestry, she is his late wife's half-sister. Their father had taken Sally's slave mother as a concubine after he was widowed for the third time; Sally is the sixth of their children. Sally's enslaved brother James Hemings is also in Paris, learning to be a French chef for Jefferson at Monticello. When George Washington offers Jefferson the post of Secretary of State, he accepts and prepares to sail home with his family.
But James, having enjoyed his freedom in Paris, is unwilling to return to the United States and urges Sally to remain with him. It is only when Jefferson promises, making an oath upon the Bible, that he will give James and Sally their freedom that they consent to return with him. Sally is also pregnant with Jefferson's child, and Jefferson extends his oath to promise freedom to all of Sally's children as well.
-
2:06:30
Films on American History and Culture
8 months agoTHE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
259 -
1:17:16
Awaken With JP
4 hours agoNothing Is as It Seems - LIES Ep. 41
30.7K21 -
1:05:21
The Quartering
21 hours agoJimmy Dore LIVE On Trump Trial, Biden's Decline, 3rd Party & The State Of Comedy & More
35.5K25 -
1:13:50
Lee Camp
4 hours agoLIVE: 3 Mysterious Events Benefit US This Week! (& much more)
13.3K -
1:04:12
Barstool Chicago
5 hours agoThe Mid Show LIVE | Tuesday, May 21st, 2024
13.1K1 -
2:07:33
Tucker Carlson
4 hours agoErik Prince: CIA Corruption, Killer Drones, and Government Surveillance
112K260 -
2:04:54
Due Dissidence
7 hours agoICC Seeks ARREST WARRANT for Netanyahu, Assange WINS New Hearing, Trump to Rally in SOUTH BRONX
27K21 -
1:59:47
Barstool Yak
5 hours agoThe Yak with Big Cat & Co. Presented by Rhoback | The Yak 5-21-24
25.9K3 -
1:27:05
TheAlecLaceShow
6 hours agoGuests: Nick Searcy | Hung Cao | Cohen Testimony | Butker Speech | J6 Doc | The Alec Lace Show
31.7K6 -
2:55:29
The Charlie Kirk Show
5 hours agoDems' College Conundrum + Voter Fraud Loophole | Farage, Engelbrecht, Dr. Carson | LIVE 5.17.24
100K37