“Knowledge is a dangerous thing..” -Fire Capt. Beatty
Imagine a society where books are outlawed and “firemen” have been tasked to burn and destroy any remaining literature, erasing history right before our eyes. This is the reality in Fahrenheit 451, a jaw-dropping new HBO Film starring Michael B. Jordan (HBO’s The Wire, Black Panther) and Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (Shape of Water), available on Digital Download June 18, 2018 and Blu-ray and DVD September 18, 2018.
Based on Ray Bradbury’s classic sci-fi novel of the same name, the thought-provoking parable depicts a frighteningly plausible future where media is an opiate, history is purged and dissent is outlawed. Published in 1953, Fahrenheit 451 is regarded as one of Bradbury’s best works.
The novel presents a future American society where books are outlawed and “firemen” burn any that are found. The book’s tagline explains the title: Fahrenheit 451 – the temperature at which book paper catches fire, and burns…”
The dystopian thriller centers on Montag (Jordan), a young fireman who questions authority, forsakes his world and struggles to regain his humanity. He’s disillusioned with the role of censoring works and destroying knowledge, eventually quitting his job and joining a resistance group led by Clarrise [originally named Mildred] (Sofia Boutella) who memorize and share the world’s greatest literary and cultural works. In the new film, he battles his mentor, fire captain Beatty (Shannon).
But, I’m going to take a step back.
To truly appreciate the genius of this work of fiction, you must appreciate the author and the times in which the novel was written and like all great science fiction, what it has to say about our current state of affairs. Knowledge is, like fire, both dangerous and powerful.
*Bradbury’s lifelong passion for books began at an early age. As a frequent visitor to his local libraries in the 1920s and 1930s, he recalls being disappointed because they did not stock popular science fiction novels, like those of H. G. Wells, because, at the time, they were not deemed literary enough.
Between this and learning about the destruction of the Library of Alexandria, a great impression was made on the young man about the vulnerability of books to censure and destruction. Later, as a teenager, Bradbury was horrified by Nazi book burnings and later by Joseph Stalin’s campaign of political repression, the “Great Purge”, in which writers and poets, among many others, were arrested and often executed. (*citation Wiki)
For further details on the history of book burning, google Bonfire of the vanities.
After 1945, the United States, whipped into paranoia about the Soviet Atomic Bomb Program and expansion of Communism.The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), investigated American citizens and organizations suspected of having communist ties. Congress actually held hearings in 1947 to investigate alleged communist influence in Hollywood movie-making. These hearings resulted in the blacklisting of the so-called “Hollywood Ten”, a group of influential screenwriters and directors.
This governmental interference in the affairs of artists and creative types greatly angered Bradbury. Bradbury was bitter and concerned about the workings of his government, and a late 1949 nighttime encounter with an overzealous police officer would inspire Bradbury to write “The Pedestrian”, a short story which would go on to become “The Fireman” and then Fahrenheit 451.
The rise of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s demogougary and shameful hearings hostile to accused communists, starting in 1950 deepened Bradbury’s contempt for government overreach. By about 1950, the Cold War was in full swing, and the American public’s fear of nuclear warfare and communist influence was at a feverish level. Fanned by our government with a big assist by the media of the day.
Bradbury saw radio and television as a threat to the reading of books, indeed as a threat to society, as he believed they could act as a distraction from important affairs. This contempt for mass media and technology would express itself through Mildred and her resistance friends and is an important theme in the book.
A strong case can be made that today we are on the cusp of the sum of all Bradbury’s fears , the fragility of fact and the vulnerability of knowledge to be extinguished. The loss of objectivity. Government overreach into the lives of its citizens. And the modern technologic distractions that fuel collective apathy we Americans currently embrace.
The corruption of our government by a fascist cabal using fear of terrorists & immigrants to erode civil liberties , dehumanize minorities and scapegoat famous individuals for speech deemed “unamerican”. – Example, the NFL owners #takeaknee First Amendment fiasco and today, the NFL Champion Eagles unprecedented shabby treatment by the White House.
Dissent is not a four letter word. *On October 15, 1969, in a speech at Columbia University, Mayor John Lindsay of New York City stated,
“We cannot rest content with the charge from Washington that this peaceful protest is unpatriotic…The fact is that this dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” (*citation -Thomas Jefferson Foundation)
The media’s culpability in shaping obvious lies to be truth, promoting dangerous demagogues for pageviews and the inconvenience of truth for the powerful in our county.
The current Muller investigation on collusion by this administration on the weaponization of social media to manipulate the public and influence our elections by foreign governments.
I am looking forward in reviewing HBO’s new film adaption of Bradbury’s most famous work. I encourage all who haven’t yet read the original novel, and film buffs, check out the ‘66 Film.
You may be surprised just how prescient Fahrenheit 451 truly was in it’s time and how topical this story remains today.
Here is the official trailer for the upcoming HBO Film-
Directed by Ramin Bahrani (99 Homes), Fahrenheit 451 also stars Sofia Boutella (The Mummy), Lily Singh (Bad Moms), Laura Harrier (Spider-Man Homecoming), Martin Donovan (Ant-Man), and more. Also executive produced by Sarah Green, Ramin Bahrani, Michael B. Jordan, Alan Gasmer, and Peter Jaysen.
Blu-ray™ & DVD Bonus Feature:
Behind the Fire: Take a deeper look into Fahrenheit 451 as Michael B. Jordan, Michael Shannon, Sofia Boutella, and director Ramin Bahrani discuss Guy Montag’s character evolution and relationships.
Fahrenheit 451
Blu-rayTM and DVD
Street Date: September 18, 2018
Order Date: September 14, 2018
Rating: TV-MA Runtime: Approx. 115 minutes
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Art credit – HBO, Wiki