The Revolutionary 1970

A's radical awakening on campus

A, a university student, becomes convinced that campus politics are too tame and decides action is needed. He attends meetings, reads radical literature, and pushes the group toward more extreme positions. His appetite for militancy grows, setting the stage for future clashes with authority.

Suspension and breakup

The dean suspends him for his political activities, signaling the consequences of his actions. His girlfriend Anne ends their relationship, citing his obsession with politics. The double rejection hardens his resolve to prove himself through revolutionary action.

Joins Despard's Marxist group

A joins a Marxist group led by Despard, a factory worker who advocates militant direct action. He moves from campus activism into a broader movement, training with veterans of the left. He begins to see himself as part of a wider struggle.

Despard pushes for a general strike

Despard urges the group to foment a general strike, aiming to paralyze the state and force change. A throws himself into the plan, convinced that economic disruption will topple the system. The attempt marks a shift from campus rhetoric to real-world upheaval.

General strike fails and crackdowns begin

The general strike fails, and government agents crack down on radicals. A goes underground to avoid arrest, living off the grid as authorities tighten surveillance. He realizes the fight has escalated beyond what he bargained for.

Loss of university status and military draft

A loses his university status amid the crackdown, becoming a target of the state's repressive apparatus. He is drafted by the army, pulled into military service as the conflict widens. His ideals are suddenly forced into a new militant framework.

Desertion during mobilization

When his unit is mobilized to suppress a workers' strike, A deserts, seeking safety away from the state's reach. He evades capture and disappears into the city, wary of both authorities and militant factions. The decision marks a definitive break with the state's machinery.

Sanctuary with Helen in the greenhouse

A finds sanctuary with Helen, a young bourgeois woman, hiding in a greenhouse. Their unlikely alliance forces him to confront the gaps between his radicalism and the world of privilege. The greenhouse becomes a fragile refuge as outside forces close in.

Despard refuses to mobilize; A is adrift

Despard, acting under Party orders, refuses to mobilize his group. This stall breaks A's hope that the movement will take decisive action, leaving him adrift and more vulnerable to radical currents. He confronts uncertainty about where his future lies.

A meets Leonard II at a bar

A encounters the radical Leonard II at a bar, in the company of Despard, and is drawn into Leonard II's schemes. He seeks purpose in violent action, and the bar becomes the entry point to a riskier path. The meeting marks the shift from isolated dissidence to organized violence.

Plans to liberate pawn shop and strike the judge

Leonard II's plots include liberating a pawn shop and then assassinating the judge who will oversee the factory workers' trial. A is pulled into the operation, tasked with dangerous duties that test his limits. The plan ties local crime to political vengeance.

A's bomb duty and moral weight

His role includes detonating a second bomb if Leonard II's device fails. He wrestles with the moral weight of causing harm for political ends. The act would demonstrate his commitment, but also threaten innocent lives.

Judge's sentencing and the plan unfolds

The judge has sentenced several convicted strikers, marking a turning point in the crackdown. Leonard's plan proceeds toward violence, and A becomes a key instrument in the looming confrontation. The room tightens with the certainty of violence.