Fahrenheit 451

Just got done watching a masterpiece of cinema, the Francois Truffaut-directed 1966 film, Fahrenheit 451 (based on the Ray Bradbury novel). After doing some basic research into IMDB I feel like I could write a whole thesis paper on the movie. But I won't.

Plot:
Guy Montag is a firefighter who lives in a lonely, isolated society where books have been outlawed by a government fearing an independent-thinking public. It is the duty of firefighters to burn any books on sight or said collections that have been reported by informants. People in this society including Montag's wife are drugged into compliancy and get their information from wall-length television screens. After Montag falls in love with book-hoarding Clarisse, he begins to read confiscated books. It is through this relationship that he begins to question the government's motives behind book-burning. Montag is soon found out, and he must decide whether to return to his job or run away knowing full well the consequences that he could face if captured.

In the end, he escapes to a place inhabited by the Book People - people who have literally become books. Rather than loosing the books, each person has committed a work to memory. Furthermore, their entire identities are defined by the book they have memorized. There are no Jacks or Bobs or Lisas, only Alice In Wonderlands or The Martian Chronicles (also by Ray Bradbury) or Pride and Prejudices (the two volumes of which were memorized by two twin brothers).

If you've ever wanted to see a movie about what it means to be human or have a personality and identity, watch this film for the myriad of ways the filmmaker tackles the issues. We get to see two every different ways of living and believing yet are left unsatisfied by either. Both have dark sides.

Ironically, the society which prizes books is comprised of "living books" instead of humans. The society which bans books because they "makes people anti social" ironically relies on stimulants, drugs and television to make it through boring, isolated, quiet lives in which everyone is "cousin."

Identity? Identity. Identity!

Some other notes:
The main character's name is Guy.
Coincidentally, Oskar Werner (Guy) also co-stared in the classic Jules and Jim as Jules, where both men are basically interchangeable (furthermore, in the film he remarks on the Nazi's book burnings).
The back of a person's head is used as the main point of identification, not the front (their face)

"Fahrenheit four five one is the temperature at which book paper catches fire and starts to burn."
"We burn them to ashes and then burn the ashes. That's our official motto."
"Ooh, mommy look. Firemen. Mommy, there's going to be a fire."
"You see, its....its no good, Montag. We've all got to be alike. The only way to be happy is for everyone to be made equal."

Dreaming of Dreams

David Weinberger's posting about dreams got me thinking about my own dreams over the past few months. Then I saw Gary Turner's post and had to add my 2 cents. For the first time in a while I will use the word "dream" to refer to actual dreams instead of "things I want and/or hope for and/or desire."

I can't remember the last time I've had a nightmare - been at least 6 months. Most dreams are nice, quaint occurrences that usually have something to do with the thoughts, people, movies and worries that I experience before going to sleep. Every now and then a totally random element enters the dream. When I remember these - which isn't often - I always wonder how and why they were in my dreams.

Many people take dreams very seriously. I find myself taking more seriously those dreams which don't seem at all connected to my current thoughts, feelings and work. Seriously thinking about them and what they may mean often results in realizations that perhaps I never would have made without the help of my unconscious mind.

Anyone else have similar experiences with pondering their seemingly weird dreams?

Movie List

It's been a while since I posted a list of recently watched films. So here I go:

Rebel Without a Cause, 1955 - Classic misunderstood youth stands up for honor. Now I know why people still buy James Dean cardboard stand-ups.
From Here to Eternity, 1953 - Amazing film with a stellar cast. Frank Sinatra at his funniest and best. Now I know why my mother's generation loves the man.
The Conversation, 1974 - Fascinating film with Gene Hackman, Harrison Ford and a small cameo by Robert Duval. A classic mystery with lots of overtones that are relevant today.
This Is Spinal Tap, 1984 - Kings of improv comedy. The DVD is a must with about 2 full hours of out-takes.
Pecker, 1998 - Awesome John Waters film. Minimalist, excellent, simple, hilarious story.

Coming up:
Streetcar Named Desire
Full Metal Jacket
A dissertation on why old movies are good movies.