It's 1919. Two months after armistice, world leaders are gathering in Paris to hammer out the peace. Everyone has demands. Prime Minister of France Georges Clemenceau wants retribution. Hardline British Prime Minister David Lloyd George was just voted in. Italian leader Orlando needs a port and faces Fascists back home. The Japanese want territories from China. American President Woodrow Wilson wants the League of Nations as he tries to ameliorate the vast conflicting demands from the world. When the German delegation is finally allowed to come, they are shocked by the peace treaty demands and the question remains whether the Germans will sign.
Adapted from the Margaret MacMillan book, this is a surprisingly thrilling history documentary. It's reminiscent of the Ken Burns style. In fact, I prefer not to have the reenactments of the leaders. It's better to have those narrations with the old pictures. Even with the expected outcome, there is a drama and political intrigue that is truly fascinating.