Orwell: 2+2=5

In this documentary, director Raoul Peck explores how George Orwell’s life experiences shaped his literary and political stance—from his time as a policeman for the British colonial power in Burma, up to his final years on the Scottish island of Jura, where 1984 was written. Based on the author's own texts, Peck weaves together Orwell’s biography, the recurring motifs in his authorship, and striking examples of how his warnings against totalitarianism, abuse of power, and systematic surveillance have resonated in our own time.

The film paints a sharp and thought-provoking portrait of an author who continues to help us understand the world around us. Raoul Peck—known for the Oscar-nominated I Am Not Your Negro (2016)—once again delivers a hugely relevant documentary that reminds us that we live in a disturbing time, but also that Orwell's clarity of vision can offer direction, courage, and a glimpse of hope.

Selected for Focus: Fascism
Using George Orwell’s concepts from the novel 1984, Peck analyzes current global trends, illustrating how the manipulation of truth and language remains the primary tool for modern authoritarianism.