From Drew Dietsch
| Published
Science fiction films have always inspired great stories that were written by imaginative authors, and some of these films are not even based on complete novels, but on short stories and novellas.
Whether it is John W. Campbell’s “Who is going there?” John Carpenter The thingPhilip K. Dicks “We can remind you for you in wholesale” Total recallOr Arthur C. Clarkes “The Sentinel” 2001: A Space Odyssey, The science fiction short story has indelibly affected films.
But a short history of science fiction received an adaptation in the 1990s and was immediately forgotten. And it is one of the brave and brazen adjustments in Sci-fi Story.
For this reason, we have to save the Kurt Vonnegut from 1995’s film adaptation Harrison Bergeron.
“Harrison Bergeron” By Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut shouldn’t need an introduction, but in the event he was a productive and effective writer who liked to play around with a genre. His pioneering novel, Slaughterhouse fiveis a unique spin for sci-fi and war stories that received their own film adaptation in 1972. You can find more information in the Genrevision Podcast episode To Slaughterhouse five.
Vonnegut’s short story “Harrison Bergeron” presupposes a United States in which all differences between people are countered by different disabilities in order to maintain a level of equality for all people. For example, people with traditionally beautiful facial features wear ugly masks.
The short story deals with the parents of Harrison Bergeron, an exceptionally bright and strong young teenager who is taken away by the government for abilities.
In the short story, Harrison’s parents look at a television program that is interrupted by Harrison to rebel against the government. I will not reveal the rest of the story because everyone should read it, but it is enough to say that the story does not have the brightest belief in humanity.
The Harrison Bergeron film
When it came to adapting the short story to a film, the showtime TV film from 1995 decided to take many creative freedom. The story takes place in 2081, but the film decides about the artistic decision to present the subsequent future as a reef in America in the 1950s. And that is only the beginning of the big deviations and additions to this film.
Harrison (played by Samwise Gamgee himself, Sean Astin) is still an unusually bright child, but if he is taken away by the government in the film, it is under the pretext to maintain a lobotomy. In the end, Harrison’s selection in the secret organization that actually runs the world is unveiled.
Yes, in the Harrison Bergeron The idea is that an intelligent cabal keeps the world secret by making society as average as possible. You even choose an armchair as president and it is Eugene Levy!
The head of this shadow government, perfect from Star Trek ViHis own Christopher Plummer shows why the world has to be so that the world has to prevent wars and devastation. In this way, it means depriving society of incredible art and expression. And Harrison now has to become part of this oppression system.
He decides to work in the government’s television department and finally plans a variation of what happens in the short story: he takes over the round and begins to play Classic films And music for the public that has been hidden for generations.
When he finally stopped, he has the chance to go to the nation’s most popular talk show, which is organized by a deadly Howie Mandel, and said it was all a joke. Again, I won’t spoil what happens, but it won’t feel good!
Look, I will be with you in advance, I love the original short story and the 1995 film definitely try his best to capture the Acerbic satire of Vonnegut’s piece. The film and history are both dark comedies in their hearts. However, the sound of the film and its TV production tend to be the stupid and cheaper execution.
Fortunately, the remarkable line -up that I have already mentioned brings a lot of play house charm into the entire production. Sean Astin is Cherubic and adequately boys like Harrison, which makes his trip all the more heartbreaked at the end of the film. Plummer is exactly the one you have occupied as malicious authority staff who could convince you to become authoritarian.
And although the film uses the Vonnegut story more than a direct adjustment for a starting point, it fits more than a few references to history like a television program with a disabled dancer. And the film is committed to the darker beliefs of Vonnegut on anti-intellectualism and the oppression of the artistic expression.
Save this film!
It is not a secret masterpiece, but Harrison Bergeron Is the challenging science fiction film that we shouldn’t leave in the trash can. And that looks like the case. While I write this script, the film is not available in any Streaming Or video-on-demand service.
You can definitely see it if you know where you have to look-and that is not too difficult, but it is unlikely that it will be restored in a high-quality solution or professionally. And who knows how long these digital versions will be on your fingertips?
Harrison Bergeron is an example of why we have to take care of the preservation of art. Since more and more of our archive media under the castle and the key of monolithic companies are becoming increasingly important, we risk that companies that have the sole authority to receive what it deserves.
Just take a look at any number of fan favorites Netflix Shows and films that have no physical publications. Devil, BarbarA large publication from a large studio that performs well at the box office still has no physical publication.
If such top -class projects can be suppressed, think of all the art you will never see just because nobody cares enough to save them. Harrison Bergeron Is not a good or bad film, it is perfectly fine, but it deserves recognition, proper archiving and availability for the public like every piece of artistic media.
If you do not believe that this is the case, why do you not turn on your brain zapping headband again and see this show that will forget you in a week that will disappear from streaming until next year.
Hey everyone! I have to encourage you to leave a comment like the video and subscribe to the channel. Otherwise, YouTube get angry on us!
Okay, apart from snarkiness, it is a lot of fun to make these videos, especially on such topics. The short story of the Vonnegut means a lot to me, and I take care of obscure films and media maintenance, so sincerely, thank you for watching.
Take a look at our videos and let us know what you want to see. Take care of yourself until next time and come back to see us here at Giant Freakin Robot.
