It was because of this mini-series that I picked up the book. It gave a very surprisingly chipper, and yet chilling vision of the future. If you can get past the dated 1970's(being it was released in early 1980, it was made at the end of the 1970's) look and somewhat campy feel, you'll likely enjoy this sci-fi Dystopian film. 1970's sci-fi often fell into camp, as did 1980's sci-fi, you had your occasional serious film such as "Alien" or "Blade Runner", both by Ridley Scott. Most of the time, however, things fell more along the lines of "Tron", "Logan's Run"< 'Zardoz", "Battlestar Galactica", "Buck rogers". etc. While they all have their redeeming qualities, they just never quite rise above the time they were made in(except maybe "Zardoz", and even that is extremely dated). I am not implying that it is always a bad thing when something is dated, as "Brave New World" is extremely dated, and yet it has much to enjoy.
When I watched it a few years back, I watched it on Google for free. I don't know if it is still available on there, it is likely free on Youtube now since Google owns Youtube, it is worth watching even if you have to pay to watch it. It is filmed well-enough, although a bit utilitarian, as is usually the case with television films, the acting is a bit on the campy side, but the script is great.
It has a very interesting story to tell, and it follows the book mostly faithfully. The story largely revolves around Eugenics, everyone is bred in a test tube, and no one is allowed to breed naturally anymore. People are bred for different purposes, and are part of a sort of caste system, everyone has their place, and stepping outside of it results in punishments. Drugs are rampant in the form of Soma, and emotions are not restricted in the sense that they are in many dystopian stories, but rather overindulged and encouraged as long as it fits into the status quo, as they are simultaneously suppressed and controlled in a society that has no room for being aberrant. This is especially true in the book where they watch emotional films called "Feelies". People are encouraged to have sex all the time, with as many partners as possible, if someone is not, that person is considered aberrant, and to be avoided.
The main characters Bernard, Mustapha, and John are all very interesting. Linda, while not extremely interesting is a sad character to watch. Drug usage actually plays a huge role in this film, and while in 1980, birth control was normal, it wasn't when the book was created in 1932, it really didn't exist yet. This book while not quite as accurate(likely because Huxley was a socialist, and the book and film have an obvious disdain for free enterprise) to how authoritarian control really works in the real world(1984 was far closer to reality), it gives an intriguing analysis into identity and how we behave when we don't even know what our real identity is.
God Bless ~Amy
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