The United States of Cinema is coordinating a mass screening of George Orwell’s 1984 in almost 200 art cinemas in five countries on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.
“Orwell’s portrait of a government that manufactures their own facts, demands total obedience, and demonizes foreign enemies, has never been timelier. The endeavor encourages theaters to take a stand for our most basic values: freedom of speech, respect for our fellow human beings, and the simple truth that there are no such things as ‘alternative facts.’ By doing what they do best – showing a movie – the goal is that cinemas can initiate a much-needed community conversation at a time when the existence of facts, and basic human rights are under attack. Through nationwide participation and strength in numbers, these screenings are intended to galvanize people at the crossroads of cinema and community, and bring us together to foster communication and resistance against current efforts to undermine the most basic tenets of our society.”
The date is significant because April 4 is the day Winston Smith, played by John Hurt, decides to begin his illegal diary.
The five Canadian venues are:
- VIFF Vancity Theatre / Vancouver, BC
- Rio Theatre / Vancouver, BC
- Original Princess Cinema / Waterloo, ON
- The Royal / Toronto, ON
- The Cercle-Lab Vivant / Quebec
My take: I admire using film to spark thought and conversation. ‘1984‘ is not going away anytime soon. It’s back on best-seller lists. And it’s coming to Broadway in June. Orwell’s 1949 book is more timely than ever and getting the multi-media treatment.