National Event Day Screening: George Orwell's 1984
Tuesday, April 4 at 7:30pm
Members: $11 / Public: $16
Post-Film Discussion moderated by Prof. Marty Haas,
Adelphi University
Additional speakers: TBA
In recent weeks, books sales of George Orwell’s
dystopian novel 1984 have surged. On April 4th, 2017, movie theatres
across the country will be participating collectively in a NATIONAL EVENT
DAY screening of the ‘80s movie 1984. Many theatre owners
strongly believe in supporting the National Endowment for the Arts, and see any
attempt to diminish this program as an attack on free speech and creative
expression through entertainment. This national event provides a chance for
communities to come together and have their voices heard. This date has been
chosen because it’s the day George Orwell’s protagonist Winston Smith begins
rebelling against his oppressive government by keeping a forbidden diary. Orwell's portrait of a government that manufactures its own
facts, demands total obedience, and demonizes foreign enemies has never been
timelier. A portion of the proceeds from this screening will
be donated to the ACLU.
Adapted from George Orwell’s classic 1949 dystopian
novel by writer-director Michael Radford, 1984 stars John
Hurt as Winston Smith, a drone in a totalitarian state dominated by the
supreme figurehead, Big Brother. Attempting to break out, he has an affair with
Julia (Suzanna Hamilton), a rebellious sensualist, but then has to deal
with O’Brien (Richard Burton), a powerful tool of the state. Winston and
Julia are tracked down by the Thought Police and "re-educated" into
loving the State. The film’s producer Simon Perry describes 1984 as both
a cautionary tale and a wicked satire. The film is haunting and disquieting,
but its central theme is one of heroic struggle. Director Michael Radford sees
George Orwell as “fundamentally the champion of decency and the freedom of
the individual against the state.”
Rated R | In English | 111 minutes
