1984 is a 2023 Finnish-Russian sci-fi dystopian black comedy drama film directed by Diana Ringo.[2] The film is based upon George Orwell's 1949 novel of the same name as well as Yevgeny Zamyatin's 1920–1921 novel We.[3][4][5]

1984
Film poster
Directed byDiana Ringo
Written byDiana Ringo
Based on
Produced byDiana Ringo
Starring
  • Aleksandr Obmanov
  • Vladimir Ivaniy
  • Aleksey Sharanin
  • Diana Ringo
  • Sergey Khrustalev
CinematographyDiana Ringo
Edited byDiana Ringo
Music byDiana Ringo
Production
company
AElita Productions
Release date
  • 15 November 2023 (2023-11-15) (Amazon Prime)
Running time
132 minutes
CountriesFinland, Russia[1]
LanguageRussian

Plot edit

In a grim and stifling society dominated by the omnipresent figure of Big Brother, individual liberties are a distant memory, swallowed up by constant surveillance. Art is scorned and fantasy is deemed a perilous affliction. Amid this oppressive landscape, a brilliant mathematician[6] finds himself entangled in a forbidden affair with a fellow intellectual. In a world where freedom is slavery, and any opposition to the iron rule carries deadly consequences, he faces a difficult choice: whether to join the resistance against the all-powerful Big Brother or remain an obedient citizen of the United State.

Cast edit

  • Aleksandr Obmanov as Mathematician D503
  • Vladimir Ivaniy as Prisoner E202
  • Aleksey Sharanin as Philologist C340
  • Diana Ringo as Fiction department employee I-330
  • Evgeniy Kazak as Concert host
  • Ilya Yaroslavtsev as Party Member
  • Viktor Korovin as Medical assistant
  • Sergei Nikitin as Engineer R-13
  • Ilya Droznin as Prison guard
  • Anton Biryukov as Enemy of the people L723
  • Vladislav Kuvitsyn as Younger doctor
  • Sergey Budanov as Older doctor
  • Dima Rubin as Inner Party Official
  • Sergei Khrustalyov as Inner Party Official
  • Aleksei Shamayev as Minister of the United State
  • Maksim Shilov as Police officer

Production edit

My film “1984” is a reflection on freedom and unfreedom, the dehumanization of society, truth and falsification, propaganda and manipulation of public opinion.[7]

 – Diana Ringo

The film is the third feature film adaptation of the novel 1984 by George Orwell. It is dedicated to the 120th birth anniversary of George Orwell.[8]

It was shot in Moscow. 1984 is an independently produced film made without Russian government support or other government funds. Ringo has said in an interview to David Ryan (author of George Orwell on Screen) that she wished to make a film which would show the humorous and satiric side of "1984". When writing the screenplay, she was also influenced by the novel We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, which served as inspiration for George Orwell when he was writing 1984. Orwell praised the novel We, of which he also wrote a review in 1946. We has a similar plot and atmosphere as the novel 1984.[9]

The film's entire soundtrack was composed by Diana Ringo.[8]

Release edit

The first trailer of 1984 was released on November 21, 2022.[10]

1984 was released on digital streaming by Prime Video on November 15, 2023. The final film trailer was also released on the same day.[11][12][13]

Reception edit

WorldFilmGeek praised the film, giving an A rating, commending the adept blend of George Orwell's novel with Yevgeny Zamaytin's "We". The review highlighted the strong performances and directing.[1]

Randall Larson in his Soundtrax column gave a positive review of the film's score.[14]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "1984 (Finland/Russia, 2023)". WorldFilmGeek. 15 November 2023.
  2. ^ The A.V. Club
  3. ^ Galina Gunkina (14 December 2022). "Кто такой Александр Обманов, сыгравший главную роль в фильме «1984»?" [Who is Aleksandr Obmanov, who played the main role in the film “1984”?]. Argumenty i Fakty.
  4. ^ "Вышел трейлер фильма «1984». Премьера — в апреле 2023" [The film trailer of "1984" has been released]. Afisha Weekend. 23 November 2022.
  5. ^ Linar Gimashev (26 March 2023). "Появился второй трейлер фильма «1984» - первая экранизация на русском языке" [The second trailer of "1984" based on George Orwell's novel has been released - the first Russian-language film adaptation]. Plugged In.
  6. ^ MUBI
  7. ^ Nikita Elgudin. "Когда страницы книг оживают на экране" [When the pages of books come to life on the screen]. MCUNIC (in Russian).
  8. ^ a b "Inside Diana Ringo's '1984': "Orwell's Novel Continues To Resonate With Readers Across Generations"". Indie Boulevard. 15 November 2023.
  9. ^ David Ryan (27 November 2023). "Interview with Diana Ringo by David Ryan -author of "George Orwell on Screen"". Indie Cinema.
  10. ^ Yulia Danilchenko (5 December 2022). "Волгоградец Александр Обманов сыграл главную роль в экранизации «1984» Оруэлла" [Aleksandr Obmanov from Volgograd played the lead role in the film adaptation of Orwell's "1984"]. Komsomolskaya Pravda.
  11. ^ Nikita Prokofiev. "Российский фильм «1984» вышел в онлайн-кинотеатре Amazon Prime" [The film “1984” was released on Amazon Prime]. Championat.ru.
  12. ^ "1984 (2023)". VokrugTV.
  13. ^ "Долгожданный научно-фантастический фильм «1984» режиссера Дианы Ринго появился в сети Интернет" [The long-awaited sci-fi movie "1984" directed by Diana Ringo is now available online]. ArtMoskovia.
  14. ^ Randall Larson. "Soundtrax: Episode 2024-2 January-February, 2024". Soundtrax.

External links edit