George Orwell’s chilling visions of totalitarianism, first articulated in novels like 1984 and Animal Farm, feel increasingly prescient today. A new documentary, Orwell: 2+2=5, directed by Raoul Peck, doesn’t simply revisit Orwell’s life and work; it argues that the dystopian future he warned against is already here. The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, draws a stark parallel between the historical realities that shaped Orwell’s thinking and contemporary events, suggesting a cyclical pattern of oppression and manipulation.
Peck’s film delves into the period surrounding the writing of 1984, exploring the author’s personal struggles with tuberculosis and the political climate of the late 1940s. It’s a period marked by the rise of totalitarian regimes and the manipulation of truth, themes that continue to resonate powerfully in the 21st century. The documentary utilizes Orwell’s own writings – letters, essays, and diary entries – alongside archival footage and scenes from film adaptations of his work to build a compelling case for the enduring relevance of his warnings about authoritarianism and the suppression of independent thought.
The documentary isn’t merely a biographical study; it’s a pointed commentary on the present. Orwell: 2+2=5 juxtaposes images of devastation from World War II, such as the bombed-out landscape of Berlin in 1945, with contemporary scenes of destruction in Mariupol, Ukraine. This jarring comparison underscores the film’s central argument: that history repeats itself, and that the dangers Orwell identified are not relics of the past but ongoing threats. The film also draws a direct line between historical events, like the execution of Nazis in Kiev in 1946, and more recent events, such as the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, highlighting a disturbing continuity in the tactics of political manipulation and the erosion of democratic norms.
Orwell’s Life as a Warning
Born Eric Arthur Blair in 1903, Orwell’s life was marked by a deep commitment to social justice and a fierce opposition to all forms of tyranny. His experiences as a police officer in colonial Burma, his time fighting with the POUM militia during the Spanish Civil War, and his disillusionment with the political landscape of post-war Britain all informed his writing. As he wrote in Orwell: 2+2=5, “What I saw in Spain made me loathe politics.” Peck’s film traces this evolution, aided by the voice of actor Damian Lewis reading excerpts from Orwell’s work, and incorporating scenes from film adaptations of his novels, including Michael Radford’s 1984 and Michael Anderson’s 1956 version of 1984, as well as references to films like Oliver Twist, Out of Africa, War of the Worlds, and Minority Report.
The Prophetic Nature of Orwell’s Dystopias
What elevates Orwell: 2+2=5 beyond a standard biographical documentary is its use of contemporary footage to demonstrate the prophetic nature of Orwell’s novels. The film argues that the dystopian scenarios he imagined are no longer fictional possibilities but tangible realities. The documentary highlights how Orwell foresaw the ways in which governments and corporations would use language and technology to control information and manipulate public opinion. A particularly striking example is the film’s comparison of Orwell’s “Newspeak” – the deliberately ambiguous language designed to limit thought – to the use of euphemisms and “alternative facts” in modern political discourse. The film also points to the invasive data collection practices of tech companies as a modern manifestation of the “Thought Police” from 1984, referencing Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony before the U.S. Senate as a symbol of this intrusion.
Raoul Peck brings a unique perspective to this project, informed by his own experiences growing up under authoritarian regimes in Haiti and Zaire. He witnessed firsthand the consequences of political repression and the importance of defending freedom of expression. His previous documentaries, including I Am Not Your Negro, which explores the legacy of James Baldwin and racism in the United States, and Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, about a Black photographer documenting apartheid in South Africa, demonstrate his ability to weave together archival footage, personal narratives, and powerful imagery to create emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating films.
A Warning for Our Time
As George Orwell himself believed, “My hope is that common people will not forget their ethical code.” His work remains a potent call to vigilance and a reminder of the importance of critical thinking in an age of misinformation. Orwell: 2+2=5 serves as a timely and urgent reminder that the fight for truth and freedom is never truly over. The film’s title, derived from the torture scene in 1984 where Winston Smith is forced to accept that 2+2=5, underscores the dangers of surrendering to falsehoods and the importance of defending objective reality. The film suggests that “everything that needs to be said has already been written,” but that the challenge lies in listening and acting upon those warnings.
Orwell: 2+2=5 is a powerful and unsettling film that demands attention. It’s a testament to the enduring relevance of George Orwell’s work and a stark warning about the fragility of democracy in the 21st century. As we navigate an increasingly complex and polarized world, the lessons of 1984 – and the insights offered by Peck’s documentary – are more important than ever. The film’s release prompts a crucial question: how will we respond to the challenges of our time, and will we learn from the mistakes of the past?
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