2081 Film Analysis

The film 2081, directed by Chandler Tuttle is a satirical rendition of a dystopian future where everyone is “finally equal”, attained by the usage of handicaps and the media. Harrison Bergeron, a fugitive and the protagonist, rebels against the propriety standards set by the society. He enters a theatre and enacts a liberating performance, critiquing the society’s enforced equality and opinions. Specifically, Tuttle uses Harrison’s dramatic entrance to show how the media influences society. Furthermore, Harrison’s father, George, typifies an average citizen who conforms to the rules, the antithesis of his son. He passively watches his son’s death, incapacitated by his handicaps. Ultimately these scenes reflect how propaganda can frighten and

It shows how they have been conditioned, through the media, to fear him and all he represents, yet ironically they created Harrison. In this scene Harrison is heavily handicapped, due to his strength. As he enters the theatre there are diegetic sounds of chains rattling and the anxious audience, creating dread. When the created suspense culminates the boom of his footfall colliding with the ground, an unnatural jarring effect is created, which is indicative of the power of his cause, defying the purpose of the handicaps and thus the rules of society. In addition, the diegetic sound combines with a swish pan shot and a shaky cam as Harrison moves along the aisle. This emphasises the sense of agitation and displays how the audience cowers as he passes them, with expressions of shock on their faces. As Harrison’s figure is revealed, it is symbolic of a cross, which reflects how Jesus died for the sins of man. So Harrison is dying for a cause in the hope that he will enlighten the people to the fallacy of their regime. The people will see the how they should naturally be, and will rise up against the government. Cross-cutting of close up shots is used, where Harrison’s expression of confidence in his cause is displayed. This acts as a contrast between father and son, rebel and conformist, viewed through the medium of a television, hence the pixilation. The close up