Fahrenheit 451 selected by Michael Dean

Dir. Francois Truffaut, 1966, 1 hr 52 mins (PG)

The classic film version of the Ray Bradbury science fiction novel, Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature that paper will spontaneously burst into flame. Oskar Werner plays a fireman who does not put out fires, but who searches out books and burns them. Books make people unhappy. In a parody of social correctness, all discordant strains are removed. The world is a lonely one of separate people in which Werner begins to read the books before burning them and slowly begins to doubt everything he stands for.

"See the book destroyed and writing return to an origin in the mental and vocal body of woman and man. The first time I saw this film I caught this last scene alone in front of the television in the dark. I carried this scene around with me for years held it close and referred to it secretly before learning that it was Bradbury, Truffaut, Fahrenheit 451."
Michael Dean

Screening Thursday 29 May 7.45pm