Review of Animal Farm (1999) by Wiebke K — 17 Oct 2010

This adaptation of Orwell's classic satire was a British attempt to make a full-length animation film for grown-upsn without all the cutesy Disney trappings. The cruelty from the book is not toned down, traumatizing children and dismaying parents who WERE nonetheless expecting Disney-esque talking piggies and horsies, and an excellent soundtrack which combines "Sovjet" sounds, baroque and genuine farm sounds, highlights it, giving a claustrophobic sense to the terrible going-ons.

Orwell's indictment of the Communist Revolution in general, and of Stalin specifically, did not target Communism specifically, and spoke more to the inevitable fate of the common people who chuck out one gang of leaders for another that becomes corrupted by power in due time. The movie does emphasize the anti-communist message even more, and eventually turned out to be funded by the American CIA, but don't let that stop you from watching a classic animated movie.

The ending of Orwell's story was bleak, depressing, and true. The makers of the movie felt that contemporary audiences might just hang themselves over so much "true-ness" so the final scene shows a little more hope for mankind.