1984 2003
Distributed by Discovery Channel School
Produced by Discovery Channel School
Director n/a
DVD, color, 60 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Literature, History, Political Science, Technology, Sociology, Communication
Date Entered: 06/18/2004
Reviewed by Karen Straube, George Fox University, Newberg, ORThis DVD is part of the Great Books series from the Discovery Channel School. It provides commentary and historical background for George Orwell’s 1984, and biographical information about George Orwell. The film sets the book into its historical and political context, but goes well beyond that. It delves into possible futures that the book prevented, as well as aspects of modern life that are Orwellian in nature, such as the ubiquitous security cameras and computers that in 20 years will have the thought capacity of the human brain. Some of the themes it touches on are totalitarianism, privacy, human rights, and the nature of language.
Narrated by Donald Sutherland, this DVD incorporates short interviews with several writers and sociologists. It also includes footage from some of the movie versions of 1984. The DVD’s features include a Video Index, Thematic Units, Slide Show, and Teaching Resources. The technical quality of the DVD is very good. An accompanying guidebook includes questions for class discussion arranged thematically.
This film is recommended for public, school, or academic libraries, and would be of interest to students of literature, political science, history, sociology, or computer science.