Colonial Theatre to screen ‘1984’ film
Film screening part of a nationwide effort to foster open conversation in light of President Trump’s election
As part of a national campaign to increase dialogue about current issues, a screening of ‘1984’ will be held.
PHOENIXVILLE >> Art house movie theaters across the country, and right here in the borough, will hold a screening of the film “1984” in an effort to initiate a community conversation during the current politically charged environment.
According to the website UnitedStateofCinema.com on Tuesday, April 4, almost 90 art house movie theatres across the country in 79 cities, including Phoenixville, and in 34 states, plus one location in Canada, will participate collectively in a national event day screening of the 1984 film starring John Hurt, the noted British actor who died last month at age 77.
April 4 was chosen because in the film, based on the bestselling novel by George Orwell, it’s the day protagonist Winston Smith begins rebelling against his oppressive government by keeping a forbidden diary.
“These theaters owners strongly believe in supporting the National Endowment for the Arts and see any attempt to scuttle that program as an attack on free speech and creative expression through entertainment,” the website states. “This event provides a chance for communities around the country to show their unity and have their voices heard.”
The novel begins with the sentence, “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking 13.”
“Less than one month into the new presidential administration, theater owners collectively believe the clock is already striking 13,” the website states, a not-so-subtle jab at President Trump.
Orwell’s portrait of a government that manufactures its own facts, demands total obedience and demonizes foreign enemies has never been timelier, the website states.
“This endeavor encourages theaters to take a stand for the basic values: freedom of speech, respect for our fellow human beings and the simple truth that there are no such things as ‘alternative facts,’” the site states. “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,” according to the website.
Kirsten Van Vlandren, programming director for the association for The Colonial Theatre, said given the current political climate “it feels like the right time to show this film and read the book.”
The theater often participates in nationwide screenings of films to commemorate the life of an actor, she said. This film screening will be no different as it will acknowledge Hurt’s life with one of his most famous roles. Past screenings have honored the late David Bowie, Harold Ramis and Leslie Nielsen. Later this year, the theater will commemorate the one year anniversary of the death of Gene Wilder.
With “1984” she said, The Colonial is not taking a political stance, necessarily, but simply offering viewers a chance to have a shared experience that will invite conversation about community values.
“A shared experience is a defining element of going to the movies,” she said. “(It’s) not a stance. We’re creating a social political discussion, if that’s what the community wants.”
Participating theaters charging admission will donate a portion of the proceeds to local charities and organizations, or will use the proceeds for the purposes of underwriting future educational and community-related programming, the website states.
Van Vlandren said tickets to a movie screening this far out usually wouldn’t sell as quickly as they have with this film already.
Other theaters plan to screen the film on DVD or Blu-Ray disc, but here’s been a shortage of the film available in those formats. “People are scrambling to show a copy,” she said. The Colonial will screen the film using a 35mm film strip, on loan from a local film collector.
To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit TheColonialTheatre.com or call (610) 917-1228. For a full list of participating theatres, visit UnitedStateofCinema.com