Animal Farm

Animal Farm, directed by John Stephenson, is an animated film released in 1954 based on the novella by George Orwell. The movie takes place on Manor Farm, an English farm owned by Mr. Jones, an alcoholic farmer who treats the animals with cruel indifference. The animals, led by the pigs, are exhausted from the endless toil and mistreatment. One day, Mr. Jones disappears after a drunk binge, leaving the animals to fend for themselves. Boxer, a loyal and hardworking boar, becomes a symbol of strength and dedication. Napoleon, a clever and cunning pig, emerges as a leader among the animals. They decide to stage a rebellion, driving the oppressive human farmer, Mr. Jones, off the land and renaming the farm 'Animal Farm'. The Seven Commandments, a set of principles meant to guide their society, are established. The Commandments include laws such as 'No animal shall wear clothes' and 'No animal shall sleep in a bed.' As the animals work together to build their community, the pigs become increasingly involved in the day-to-day decision-making. They organize production, decide on the division of labor, and ensure everyone follows the Seven Commandments. With each passing day, however, it becomes obvious that the pigs are exploiting the resources and knowledge they've gained to their advantage. A major concern arises when Frederick and Pilkington, neighboring farmers, threaten to purchase the land where Manor Farm is. The pigs, realizing their new home may be at risk, form an uneasy alliance with the rival farms. The pigs begin making concessions to the rival farms, compromising the integrity and principles of their new society. As time goes by, corruption festers on Animal Farm. Some animals, like the horses Mollie and Jones's donkey, struggle with the moral standards that have been established. They yearn for the familiar comforts of the old regime but feel ashamed for having those desires. The Seven Commandments are gradually altered, changed, and re-interpreted by the pigs to justify their increasingly self-serving decisions. One pivotal event marks the downward spiral of the revolution. A wise old mare, named Old Major, dies, and he leaves behind his vision of a utopian society for all animals. His legacy is used by the pigs to reinforce their grip on the leadership. With Old Major's death, power shifts firmly to the pigs. The movie concludes with a grim and unsettling twist. The pigs are indistinguishable from the humans they originally sought to replace. They wear clothes, sleep in beds, eat the best food, and engage in all the vices of their oppressors. As the film fades to black, a close-up shot shows the pigs sitting by the radio, listening to the news as the country celebrates Mr. Jones's death. It's ironic that, while the animal's lives may have changed, their fate seems inescapably bound to the very thing they sought to escape. Throughout the movie, clear warnings are issued about the dangers of totalitarianism and the potential costs of revolution. The story serves as a timeless commentary on human nature, cautioning against the erosion of principles and the exploitation of power.