Film: Animal Farm

Animal Farm, an animated film produced by Angel studios and directed by Andy Serkis of Lord of the Rings fame will be out in cinemas on 24th July.

Animal Farm is one of the great literary allegories of the 20th century. A novella by George Orwell, a committed Socialist, Orwell was appalled by what he saw as the degeneration of the idealism of the Russian Revolution into totalitarianism at the hands of Stalin, and the ensuing exploitation and genocide of the masses.

Rather than their liberation there arose simply a new elite exploiting the poor.

This cycle of revolution and dictatorship is something not unique to the former Soviet Union but to many countries that have overthrown their oppressors to end up with something worse.

Animal Farm tells the tale of a group of farmyard animals who rise up against the evil farmer and take over running the farm themselves. Initially everything is wonderful, and they come up with worthy principles to live by but these are one by one eroded by the manipulation of Napoleon, one of the pigs. Napoleon, manages to make each decision plausible and for the good of all and the animals blindly follow him until it is too late. This chimes with Christian theology and its understanding of fallen human nature and the corrupting nature of power.

A stirring tale but not a natural fit for a children's cartoon. I wondered how such a grim story could be tackled in a way that would be entertaining but still retain something of its message and power. A 1954 version of it, funded by the CIA, as anti-communist propaganda had bombed. Although this current version by Andy Serkis has not had very good reviews from purists, I liked it and found it very amusing but with a bite. I thought the message was very appropriate for the 21st century, where the enemy is so not much communism per se but corporate culture, the market, and the way whoever controls the medium of communication determines what is truth and what is fake news and the ensuing manipulation of the masses by charismatic individuals. Instead of the simple life of work and sharing that is proposed at the beginning the pigs become decadent living a life of luxury and partying while the other farm animals work and starve.

Serkis has assembled a wonderful voice cast of Hollywood stars to voice the parts from Seth Rogan who plays Napoleon, as a kind of Donald Trump larger than life character, alternately appealing and laid back but suddenly evil and frightening like the queen in Snow White while Kieran Culkin, plays Squealer his stupid sycophantic sidekick. Woody Harrelson plays Boxer, the loyal, dedicated carthorse.

With its singing, rap beats and humour the film has echoes at times of the Jungle Book. A dystopian futuristic element is also introduced with the appearance of Glen Close voicing the chief human baddie (here a female) who is a cross between Cruella de Vil and President Alma Coin from the Hunger Games. A piglet called Lucky (voiced by Gaten Matarazzo) not in the original story, is the cute but clever everyman caught up in the action. At the beginning he is very idealistic but gradually gets drawn in by Napoleon's persuasive powers until he finally sees the error of his ways and the truth.

The film is not George Orwell's book but an entertaining and valid riff on it and should be seen in this light. It is a film that children and adults can enjoy on different levels but perhaps not for a very sensitive child because of the content.

Watch the official trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN6J7l6ulYk