SceneFiend library
The Life of Emile Zola
By Norman Reilly Raine, Heinz Herald and Geza Herczeg - Film
Roles
- Emile Zola - Adult (36-50), Senior (>50), Male
About this piece
Zola addresses the jury
Summary
This film is a biopic of celebrated French writer Emile Zola who took upon himself to fight social injustice and attack the corrupt establishment with his books. At this point of the movie he is now rich and famous and his only concern is to become part of the French Academy, the highest honor for a writer. One day, however, he is visited by Madame Dreyfus, the wife of Captain Dreyfus, an Army captain who has unjustly been accused of treason. She shows him proof that her husband is innocent and that they wouldn't convict the real traitor, Major Walsin-Esterhazy, because that would mean that the Minister of War would have to admit making a mistake. He decides then to pursue the case and writes an accusation letter to the President of France accusing the Army of a cover-up in the Dreyfus affair. As a consequence he is brought to court and in this speech he exhorts the jury to recognize that he is right. Dreyfus is innocent and the good of France is in his best interest...
Tone
Use cases
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