The message behind Fahrenheit 451 still resonates today

IMAGINE a world where fireman don't put out fires but instead start one to burn banned books.
When Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 (1953) he based in on several instances in his life include the Nazi book burning (books representing ideologies opposed to Nazism), Joseph Stalin's the "Great Purge" (many writers were arrested and executed) and the rise of Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee that went after many creative people who were suspected to have communist leanings.
Fahrenheit 451 has been adapted into film by François Truffaut that was released in 1966, a radio drama, theatre play and also a video game. It has also been a cultural reference for many filmmakers and authors over the year. The title is said to refer to the temperature in which paper catches fire.
There are naturally high expectations for HBO Films' Fahrenheit 451 that stars Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther, Creed), Michael Shannon (Man Of Steel, Revolutionary Road) and Sofia Boutella (Kingsmen) in key roles.
A warning for diehard fans of the book though. While the main premise of the movie may be based on the book but it has been tweaked a bit to suit a newer audience.
Directed by Ramin Bahrani (99 Homes), who also co-wrote the screenplay with Amir Naderi (Vegas: Based on a True Story), the movie views media is an opiate, facts and history are rewritten, and "firemen" burn books.
Fahrenheit 451 follows Guy Montag (Jordan), the most popular fireman in his district, with a mandate to achieve happiness and social harmony by burning books, physical or electronic, deleting and altering history, art, photos and facts, and replacing words with simplistic emojis.
"Natives," or citizens, stay home, happily interacting with screens and getting anything they need from "Yuxie," an advanced AI personal assistant that listens to and watches them at all times.
The enemies of society as the "Eels" who fight to save books, knowledge and culture. When firemen catch them, they punish Eels by burning their books in public, which are broadcast to the city on giant building-screens.
The Eels' digital identities and histories are wiped clean and they are banished to Talay City, a poor slum with very little technology.
Captain Beatty (Shannon) is Montag's mentor and friend, and the head of the regional fireman brigade.
Unknown to everyone, Beatty harbors a desire for learning and books, the very things he teaches Montag to hate and burn.
However when an incident causes Montag to question everything he has been taught. He turns to Clarisse ( Boutella), an Eel-turned-informant for help and what he finds out brings him in direct conflict with his mentor.
In a press release statement, Academy Award nominee Shannon feels that the movie's release is timely.
"Everything now is more oriented to opinion and propaganda, and the technology that's available is allowing us to create a dangerous non-reality.
For my character Beatty, it's not even important whether something is a lie or the truth. That's an antiquated notion, and that's something we're seeing in our culture today.
But my own personal mantra is 'pay attention' – we think we're getting all the information and facts, but often you can't rely on the validity of what you're reading or seeing these days," said Shannon.
Riding high career-wise after a spate for hit films, Jordan explains his character Montag as :"He's the golden boy, you know? And with that type of pressure on him, there's also a pressure to continue down that path – not to go back, not to turn left, not to make any mistakes.
I think the message of the film and the book is very important today, when our freedom of choice and freedom of speech – our rights as human beings – are being tested. Don't always do what you're told. Do what you feel is right.
That's something my character Montag learns as he starts to question what the Ministry taught him and slowly but surely begins to think for himself.
Know that you have freedom of choice. Don't rely on someone else to tell you what is true or what your reality is."
Fahrenheit 451 premiered on HBO (Astro Channel 411 / HD 431), on May 20 at 8am (primetime 9pm). The film will air again on May 22 at 11.45am. It is also be available on HBO On Demand (via Astro GO).