Next week over 180 art house movie theatres plan to screen the 1980's movie "1984" as a tribute to an actor and a protest against the Trump administration.
On April 4th over 180 art house movie theatres across the country in 165 cities and in 43 states will be participating collectively in a screening of the 1980's movie 1984 starring John Hurt, who died last month.
This date was chosen by the organizers, the United State of Cinema and Art House Convergence for two reasons:
First, April 4th is the day George Orwell's protagonist, Winston Smith, begins rebelling against his oppressive government by keeping a forbidden diary.
Second, the event is meant to be a commentary on the current political climate. Art house theaters owners are concerned about the Trump administration, particularly the proposal to eliminate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.
“A lot of us have felt that the current administration, a lot of our most essential values are sort of under assault,” Dylan Skolnick, co-director of Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, N.Y., and one of the organizers of the national screening, told the Los Angeles Times. “In particular, things like the existence of actual facts. And ‘1984’ has had this sudden uptick in popularity because it really explores a lot of those issues."
Here is the partial text of the announcement on the United State of Cinema's website:
"Orwell's novel begins with the sentence, "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." Less than one month into the new presidential administration, theater owners collectively believe the clock is already striking thirteen. 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."
At least one Central Florida theater is participating, the Enzian in Maitland. Use this link to learn more about 1984.
