Damian Lewis narrates text by George Orwell, as director Raoul Peck profoundly demonstrates that we as a society, and a planet, are living smack dab in the middle of Orwell’s 1984.

Intercutting with the various adaptations of 1984 and Animal Farm, Peck includes documentary and news footage charting the new rise of fascism, authoritarianism, and fear-mongering as control. It shows how we’ve given up our personal freedoms for perceived safety, and all of it seeming to reflect what Orwell published in 1949.

It’s a brutal and chilling look at our current existence. Using Big Brother’s slogans, War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength, Peck explores how Orwell’s doublespeak is employed today as those in power attempt to erase and rewrite history to reflect their own desires, needs and beliefs.

It looks at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Myanmar, the United States, all set to the backdrop of the horrors Orwell portrayed in his writings. Troubling and horrific the film doesn’t flinch from its exploration, with Orwel’ texts serving as signposts to our present and future.

The film does more than that, however, it also serves as a condensed biography of Orwell’s life, shared through photos and letters. Lewis’ delivers just the right tone, even as horrors are explored and documented.

It’s not an easy film to watch, as it offers an almost hopeless look at our current state of affairs, but it is an important film. Peck lays out his facts and argument cohesively, and it’s hard to believe that Orwell’s warnings have come to pass, completely ignored. And objective truth seems to have completely disappeared from the global stage.

Orwell – 2+2=5 screens on Monday, September 8 at 2:45pm at Scotiabank, and Tuesday, September 9 at 12:10pm, also at Scotiabank.