Conversation so far:
What are some of the historical references in this film?
such as Le voyage dans la lune (1902).
What era is the film based on?
He became interested in film after seeing a demonstration of the Lumiere brothers' camera.
How is history incorporated into the film?
also a depiction of the Montparnasse derailment, when at 4 pm on 22 October 1895, the Granville-Paris Express overran the buffer stop at its Gare Montparnasse terminus.

Question: Was there a theme to the historical references that were chosen for this film?
Self-contained rewrite: Was there a theme to the historical references that were chosen for the film Hugo?