Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas

Age of Uprising: The Legend of Michael Kohlhaas (Michael Kohlhaas) is a 2013 French-German drama film directed by Arnaud des Pallières based on Heinrich von Kleist's novella Michael Kohlhaas, which again is based on the story of Hans Kohlhase. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot
During the 16th century, horse dealer Michael Kohlhaas is taking his horses to market. As he passes through a local baron's lands, the baron seizes two of his horses, even though the right to extract tolls has been abolished in the country. When Kohlhaas discovers that his loyal servant was attacked by the baron's guard dogs, and that his horses have been injured and abused, he attempts to sue for monetary compensation, but his lawsuit is dismissed because the baron has a kinsman at court. Then Kohlhaas's wife tries to plead his case to the Princess, but she dies from injuries suffered at the hands of the baron's men.

Kohlhaas leads a revolt to attack the baron's house and then to induce the authorities to administer satisfactory justice. When initially successful, the Princess offers Kohlhaas an amnesty to stop the violence, and he agrees to it, but the deal soon collapses. The baron is sentenced to prison for just two years for his offenses, and Kohlhaas is executed.

Cast

 * Mads Mikkelsen as Michael Kohlhaas
 * Delphine Chuillot as Judith
 * Bruno Ganz as the governor
 * Paul Bartel as Jérémie
 * Mélusine Mayance as Lisbeth
 * David Bennent as César
 * David Kross as the preacher
 * Denis Lavant as the theologist
 * Sergi López as the one-armed man
 * Roxane Duran as Princess Marguerite de Navarre
 * Amira Casar as the abbess
 * Swann Arlaud as The Baron

Accolades
The film won the Golden Iris at the Brussels Film Festival. In January 2014, the film received six nominations at the 39th César Awards, winning in two categories.