Eric Arthur Blair was an English novelist, poet, essayist,
journalist and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His
work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to
all totalitarianism, and support of democratic socialism.
In a totalitarian future society, a man whose daily work is rewriting history tries to rebel by falling in love.
Accurately
gloomy and defeatist adaptation of Orwell's classic dystopian novel has
some good post-war settings and a good cast; the pessimistic vision,
unfortunately, is as valid as ever nowadays.
Halliwell*:
"Pointless, perhaps, to make a prophetic film in the year it was
supposed to be prophesying, but this version adds a few twists to
Orwell's nightmarish original and is well if sometimes confusingly
made."
Maltin***: "Appropriately grim, well-cast
version...Superior to the 1956 version, though the oppressive gloominess
of the second half does wear you down. Seedily impressive production
design."
In a totalitarian future society a man whose daily work is rewriting history tries to rebel by falling in love.
Adequate,
if not a bit frumpy adaptation of the famous dystopian novel works best
in its depiction of the totalitarian society, but the ending is
strangely not as devastating as it should be.
Halliwell*:
"The famous prophecy of a dehumanized future is followed with
reasonavle fidelity apart from the deviant ending, but the novel is too
literary for cinematic success and the result is too often both downbeat
and boring."
I'm an American living in Regensburg, Bavaria. Born in Munich I spent my first 10 years in Kirkwood, Mo. 1971 we moved to where I am now. Finished German school in 1981, afterwards studied philosophy and German literature and languages. 1982 I joined the management of the local film club's cinema Filmgalerie, and from 1991-2001 I co-owned an own arthouse cinema STALI (Stadtamhofer Lichtspiele). In between I also was partner of the cinema and music bookstore Angry Red Planet for a few years. In the 80s I co-founded the local industrial band and performance art group Lyssa humana that officially still exists, but currently doesn't perform (last time was for our retrospective exhibition in 2010) at the Kunstverein Graz. I was also member of the shortlived noise rock band Hammersmith. Since 2001 I work for the customer service of a large American online company.
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