George Orwell: A Life in Pictures (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Chris Durlacher

Writers:

Chris Durlacher (screenplay)
Paul Whittington (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 June 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | Drama

Plot:

Dramatised biography of writer George Orwell. |

Plot Keywords:

Reenactment

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Chris Langham	...	George Orwell
Michael Fenton Stevens	...	Why I Write Questions
Tom Goodman-Hill	...	Derek Savage
Andrew Bone	...	Alex Comfort
Mary Roscoe	...	Eileen Blair
Rebecca Front	...	Jura Interviewer
Barbara Flynn	...	Herself - Narrator (voice)

Runtime:

UK:95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Wall to Wall Television

Brave and original

Although he only died fifty or so years ago, no film exists of George Orwell. Given that (if he'd been active a decade or two later) there could just as easily have been a considerable Orwell video archive, the filmmakers have gone ahead and created one, based on his writings and audio recordings. It's a serious endeavour which goes a long way to helping a young, modern audience better understand Orwell. The variety of invented films is impressive.

Although a serious, semi-educational project, the choice of Langham to play the great man, as well as the Zelig-like quality of the film, gives it a wry humour: it's not taking itself _too_ seriously. Langham is well cast; he isn't a brilliant actor but he does a respectable job.