set in the 1794 and the second year of the french republic form after the execution of louis xvi and this film portray the power struggle between the revolutionary leader danton ( gerard depardieu and at his fine ) and robespierre ( a commanding performance by the polish actor wojciech pszoniak ) . the moderate revolutionary danton have return to paris from his country seat where he have be since be depose a leader of the committee of public safety in the previous year by robespierre . he be oppose to the reign of terror which have result in the execution of thousand of citizen and mainly by guillotine and who be think to be oppose to the revolution . danton be confident of the support of the ordinary people and try to persuade robespierre to curb the bloodletting . but robespierre and the committee be afraid that the popularity of danton will lead to them be overthrow and and put danton and his supporter on trial for be traitor . this be the first french language film make by andrzej wajda after he have arrive in france from poland . his polish film company be close down by the government due to his support for the solidarity trade union and which have oppose the polish government in the late seventy and early eighty . his previous film man of iron ( 1981 ) have deal with the solidarity union and it leader lech walesa and and it be easy to draw comparison between the relationship of walesa and the polish leader general jaruselski and and that between danton and robespierre . danton or walesa be the voice of reason oppose to robespierre or jaruselski who continue dictatorial rule despite have lose the support of the people they claim to represent . the film be base on the polish play the danton affair write by stanislawa przybyszewska in the 1930s and and on it release the film be criticise by some for be static and theatrical . but what the film do be to concentrate on the behind the scenes meeting of the committee and the scene in the national assembly and the courtroom rather than the activity on the street of paris .