Dir: Raoul Peck, France/US, 2025, 119 mins, English/Burmese/Russian/French/Spanish/Mandarin with subtitles where appropriate
Cast: Damian Lewis, George Orwell (archive)
Review by Matthew Kamara
It combines historical context with contemporary anxieties in a way that feels both uncomfortable and undeniably engaging. This film isn’t a straightforward adaptation; instead, it functions as a no-holds-barred examination of Orwell’s themes of surveillance, propaganda and manipulation of the truth linked to unsettling parallels in the modern world. The content – extracts from the various film and television dramatisations of the novel, archive footage of news clips and insightful commentary from experts, creates a compelling and at times disturbing story.
This film’s strength lies in its ability to demonstrate how Orwell’s dystopian vision isn’t just a historical story of the Cold War but serves as a warning about the dangers of unchecked power and the erosion of the individual citizen’s freedoms, delving into controversial topics, such as government surveillance, the spreading of misinformation and the increasing polarization of society. Although the film doesn’t offer easy answers, it does provide a valuable framework for understanding the challenges we face in the 21st century.
The film’s watchability comes from its ability to tap into our deepest fears about the future, while also inspiring us to resist the forces that threaten our freedom.
For me, it’s an absolute blast to watch a film that is both intellectually stimulating but deeply unsettling at the same time. While some may criticise its alarmist tone, “Orwell: 2+2=5” serves as a powerful call to remind us that the fight for freedom is an ongoing struggle for mankind.
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