The movie is an allegory about what a world without books and culture would be, an ode against ignorance and simple minds, a reminder that burning books is a sign of human degradation and typical of tyrannical regimes. It is also an homage to Literature, in this case to Truffaut's fav books, as most of the books burnt are French titles and authors.
The movie honours Bradbury's visionary novel. Think about our modern world, dominated by big plasma screens hanging from the walls in which reading and culture are each time less valued and appreciated. Think about those reality shows in which our opinion is asked as a way of creating a false sense of community and participation, when our answers are, indeed, irrelevant. Think about a world in which the information is manipulated by the media to support the political regime in vogue... It sounds familiar, no? These themes are fantastically presented in the film.
All the actors are great in their roles. Cyril Cusak is truly convincing as the fire brigade captain, completely sure about his Mission and about the danger of books for Society. Oskar Werner is also great as fireman Montag, going from a hieratic starting to a soulful mood when his character starts to change and read books. Julie Christie is great in her double role as Montag's wife Linda and neighbour book-reader Clarisse. I loved that while Linda is very feminine and sensual on the exterior, she's emotionally frigid, while her counterpart Clarisse, who is dressed boyishly and has short hair, has a special warmth and sensuality that comes from her cultivated inner world.
The colours of the movie are not randomly chosen. The movie offers subdued grey and pastel tones that are constantly highlighted by two main colour, dark grey (as the society that represents, especially clear in the children school uniforms), and a beautiful intense deep red (associated to fire).
The OST by Bernard Herrmann is magnificent, dramatically neurotic sometimes, lyric some others, while the tune that accompanies the fire squad's outings is very Ravel-ish and anticipative (and catchy) and sets the pace of the movie. Most of the time the music is unsettling. I thought it was overwhelming sometimes, too, and I did not like that.
The end of the movie is just magnificent, so lyric, so full of hope. The whole snow scene and recitation of the old man with his grandson is pure beauty, and so moving.
I watched this movie for the first time on TV when I was about 13y.o., many years ago!, and it had a huge impact on me. In fact, I forgot the title but not the movie. and the message The reviewing of the movie proofs that there is a reason for that impact, as the movie stands the past of time as all the themes discussed are still relevant for our world.
The only think that does not stand the pass of time are the fashion and, above all, the special effects, which are very much outdated and made me laugh when re-watching it recently. However, the movie has a lot of experimental things that are still daring today. For example, the opening credits, all spoken, no word written until we see The End at the end of the movie, or the scene in which half the screen goes black.
A movie that will move immensely to all of us who have thrived on books and still think that written culture and knowledge highlight more our spirit than any religion.
