The Young Karl Marx 2018

As Karl Marx navigates his early twenties, he finds himself grappling with the daunting task of establishing himself as a prominent writer of political and sociological significance. It is during this formative period that he grapples with the stark reality of societal injustices, particularly in the treatment of the working class. The film’s opening scene poignantly captures the desperation of impoverished individuals gathering firewood in a forest where this daily struggle has been perpetuated for centuries - only to be brutally reminded of its illegality by government officials. Marx’s keen eye and sharp intellect are galvanized as he chronicles these events, arriving at a profound conclusion: the ruling class has effectively seized control of the state.

Marx’s intellectual trajectory is forever altered when he encounters Friedrich Engels, a young man whose affluent father owns industrial factories. Initially, Engels is oblivious to the systemic injustices unfolding within his own family’s business empire - including the exploitation and mistreatment of workers, many of whom are children. However, as Engels’ understanding of these inhumane practices matures, he begins to collaborate with Marx, sharing his own experiences and insights. Together, they embark on a crusade to create a new political movement aimed at unifying and empowering the downtrodden working class.

Their partnership culminates in a pivotal moment when they seize control of a League of the Just meeting, effectively supplanting it with the Communist League. This bold action sets the stage for their most iconic collaboration: The Communist Manifesto - a seminal work penned in simple, accessible language, designed to be comprehensible to all. Published concurrently with the 1848 revolutions, this groundbreaking treatise would forever change the course of human history.