King Ubu

The film is an adaptation of the French play "Ubu Roi, or The Poles" by Alfred Jarry. The titular Ubu, a primitive and greedy man, seizes power in the state in a brutal and ruthless manner by pandering to scoundrels and currying favor with influential figures. His slogans about fighting for freedom and democracy quickly prove to be mere pretexts for pursuing personal ambitions—Ubu subjugates the entire country solely to satisfy his whims and financial gain. The reforms he implements are absurd, citizens are engulfed in poverty, and the state treasury is empty. Surrounded by sycophants, he intensifies terror and repression against his subjects. Incited by ambassadors of foreign powers, Ubu sets out to war against the Russian tsar. The expedition ends in defeat, and the tsar enters the capital, welcomed enthusiastically by diplomats and with moderate support from the public. Ubu and his wife are forced to flee to France. Unexpectedly, the royal crown falls into the hands of a blind florist, whom the nation proclaims as the new queen. To the astonishment of the tsar, the court, and the ambassadors, the new ruler declares a republic, thus ending Ubu’s grotesque reign.