Film Review of Jefferson in Paris
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Film Review of Jefferson in Paris
Plot Summary: The class was instructed to view the film entitled Jefferson in Paris.
The film was an examination of the years in Thomas Jeffersons life when he acted as the U.S.
Ambassador to the court of Louis XVI. The movie spanned the years between 1784 and 1789,
and followed Jefferson to France after the death of his wife. The movie was filmed against the
back-drop of the beginning of the French Revolution, and opened with the introduction of an
African-American character named Madison Hemings. Mr. Hemings told the story that Thomas
Jefferson was his father, in flash-back.
From my interpretation, there seemed to be several storylines throughout the movie.
There was a look into Jeffersons friendship and romance with painter Maria Cosway. Maria
Cosway was a married British-Italian socialite who was immediately attracted to Jefferson. What
began as friendship turned into romantic attraction. Jefferson courted Mrs. Cosway until she
declared her love for him. Once that happened, he seemed to draw away from her. It was when
she observed his unsettling relationship with one of his female slaves that she realized the futility
of a lasting relationship with him. On that day, she left Jeffersons home and they never saw one
another again.
Another storyline involved Jeffersons role as a slave owner, and his relationship with
Sally Hemings, the black girl, not yet sixteen, who purportedly became pregnant by Jefferson. It
was obvious that Jefferson cared deeply for Sally and was protective of her physical, emotional,
and financial well-being. At the same time, it was clear that he was forever mindful of his
ownership of her and that she was, unmistakably, his property. There is written narrative
toward the end of the movie that alluded to the possibility that Jefferson had fathered other
children with Sally.
The film also examined the complicated relationship Jefferson had with his daughter,
Patsy. Patsy was portrayed as overly-protective, and, at a very young age, pledged her undying
devotion to her father. Later in the film, she vowed that same devotion for her sister, Polly, who
arrived in Paris with Sally Hemings. The film followed Patsy from her days at a convent to her
obsessive jealously of his mistresses, Mrs. Cosway and Sally. Her disillusionment over her
fathers affairs would have been the cause of her joining the convent, had her father not
intervened.
The film observed the political events leading up to the French Revolution. It appeared
that Jefferson enjoyed the elegance of French aristocratic life. At the same time, Jefferson was
also mindful of the revolutionary atmosphere surrounding Paris, and France, in general.
The film ended with the summonsing of Jefferson back to Washington, where President George Washington had tapped him to be his Secretary of State. Before going home, James Hemings, Sallys brother, who was also one of Jeffersons slaves, made Jefferson solemnly swear to set him free upon their return to Monticello. James also made Jefferson promise that, upon Jeffersons death, Sally and her offspring would be freed. As an attestation to his sworn promise to James, and, ultimately, Sally and her children, Jefferson was shown making a solemn vow, with his hand on a bible being held by Patsy. Jefferson, in turn, made Patsy solemnly swear that she would honor his promise to emancipate Sally and her children upon his death.
Themes: The backdrop for Jeffersons years in Paris was the political events leading up
to the French Revolution. The film portrayed Jefferson as an ambassador to France during the
years