2081, The Film (HD) - Based on "Harrison Bergeron," by Kurt Vonnegut

"Harrison Bergeron" is a satirical dystopian science-fiction short story by American writer Kurt Vonnegut, first published in October 1961. Originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, the story was republished in the author's Welcome to the Monkey House collection in 1968.
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In Kurt Vonnegut's dystopian masterpiece, "Harrison Bergeron," the pursuit of absolute equality takes a grotesque turn, leading to a society where individuality is eradicated and human potential is stifled. Set in the year 2081, the story revolves around Harrison Bergeron, an exceptional fourteen-year-old boy who embodies the antithesis of the government's enforced mediocrity.
To suppress Harrison's remarkable intelligence, strength, and beauty, he is subjected to a series of handicaps, symbolic of the suppression of individuality in the name of equality. Harrison's brief rebellion against this oppressive system offers a glimpse of what a truly human existence could be, but his defiance is swiftly crushed, leaving a haunting reminder of the dangers of unchecked governmental control.
Vonnegut's sharp satire exposes the absurdity and danger of an extreme pursuit of equality, forcing us to question the limits of societal intervention and the implications of suppressing individuality. "Harrison Bergeron" stands as a powerful cautionary tale, reminding us that the path to true equality lies not in erasing human diversity but in embracing and celebrating it.

[@tapewormrage]

This is equity in action. Don't let it happen to us.

[@WillowLemmons]

This is actually equity with the absence of equality in action. It's making everyone equitable by making them unequal. Putting equity into action is ideal as long as equality is preserved in the process. You shouldn't avoid either you should embrace both, which is Egality.

[@vonschuhart]

One detail from the original story that I found was interesting that is actually omitted here is that Harrison actually announced his intention to overthrow the current system and reign as an Emperor. While he himself is exceptional, he is also borderline monstrous. The oppression of his society has driven him to pursue tyranny, and thus the freedom he espouses is almost a farce (though a much preferable one to the circumstances in which he lives). In this depiction it almost reads as if he knows and intends to die here, live on television. Here he is made into a martyr when before he was a monster of the world's own creation. And, of course, there is the irony that he is killed with a gun, "the great equalizer"

[@martincollins1805]

I read your comment after attempting to 'extract' some themes, though I hadn't read the book, and hoped to raise the issue of artistic inspiration or 'enthusiasm' divine possession, although the ''atheists don't fly planes into buildings' bit never made it into print, tho' it appears from your fleshing out of Harrison's psyche..not as left field as all that. I mention the sort of Fine Arts fashions poor Kurt might have suffered while maintaining faith in the trans formative (I'm sure that was one word..you tube Disabilty Governor 'correction?) and mentioned 'minimalism, and the potential for ostracism/'othering' should one admit the earth hadn't moved..profoundly. In a lecture of Fine Arts 'I mentioned the 'minimilist manifesto such as it was wass word for word the same as the hard core asceticism of both 'Trad Hermits, and the puritan methodism that erased all decoration from English churches and the methodist altar table was a preexisting exemplar of the shoe box sculpture and the white on white 'late abstraction. As thanks for this observation I was branded some sort of religious fanatic, which was amusing, but when I volunteered to prove it, the faculty scattered. My thesis was on ''changing people's minds' in the transformative sense of art..but soon realized the 'ultimate 'expreeion' to achieve this exactly that of religious conversion or brainwashing...and involves a major human rights violation. By that time I had clocked up more failures of etiquette. I was shocked when this dropped. However, to proceed I first had to overcome the thesis mentor's conviction (from a marxist socialist take on Art History and Philosophy) that there were no such thing as individuals..and nothing to brainwash! Good movie, right!? Way to go Kurt, actors and cast and musicians!

[@martincollins1805]

At the risk of being pedantic under someone else's worthy post..but including an 'affirmative overcoming of a philosophic 'Borg'...knowing my thesis was toast if the 'Marxian dialectic denial of an individual/self to get Possessed, Converted or Brainwashed..and frankly terrified, I eventually came up with 'there are individuals who can inspire intense passionate love..which is nothing todo with your lideology..and to give credit a long silence ensued after which he started weaping..as well he should as 'idealist logical 'arguments completely falll to bits on one fallacy, and despair a fitting response. I did, question why apernicious falsehood be proposed ina Fine Arts Faculty by a PHd weildingThesis mentor (in Philosophy or Art History) but was soon being confronted by his boyfriend, telling me how 'disgusting you painters are' in full combat hissy fit mode, and ended with 'I'm sorry Adrian, I think I've pissed on your Chinos. Why, because Adrian is his real name..Adrian Rifkin. Anyway persuasion need not be bad and remaining friends and equals very much possible...and who are the most emphatic chear leaders for 'inclusive' society? Yes the Borg, but 'Prophet-type', Cult leader,, Shaman.. type is 'exclusive' elitist..professing special 'profound , understanding, direct line to the gods, or special powers attainable to the unregenerate..and they all praise 'shelf unit minimalist sculpture in the end. Unfortuinately, after a promising start in the Manchurian Candidate, the Chinese have been frankly rubbish at it ..which smells like invasion of the body snatchers denialism but Special Powers have been marvellously commercial in the cinema where they 'save' innocent folk instead of crushing the individual into a permanent mould, as living in doubt no fun. You can't just tell by the Chinos,

[@saratugsuu3147]

Some other things noted was the dialogue, for example, in the original story, George actually left to get a beer, while Hazel was watching Harrison's death. In this case, their roles are swapped in both action and dialogue.

[@evilnick2885]

I dont think in the original story he was really thinking he was going to tyranically overthrow the government more than just make a stand and be a myrtr.

[@R_Williams_Gaming]

You left out the part where Harrison and his empress then begin to dance so gracefully, lovingly and supernaturally wonderful that they literally begin to float in the air. I think this is meant to actually have the reader question their initial aversion to him declaring himself emperor. If a 7 foot tall perfectly intelligent, strong and capable man appeared in a world like this and could literally FLY he was so marvelous I think we are supposed to seriously consider that he actually SHOULD be emperor.

[@hagvaktok]

Enjoyed this! Kurt Vonnegut was part of our high school literature in English class in the '70's. I bet it is banned in many places these days. I think the truth about celebrating individualism is somewhere in between,. Extremes at either end are not nice - like most things..

[@sarahsternberg9602]

it was part of our high school literature 10 years ago so hopefully it won't disappear

[@salvadorromero9712]

I don't know if I agree or not but it seems likely that Kurt did! Notice in this story that Harrison is not a hero or a sympathetic character at all; both he and the regime seem dangerous, preposterous, unsympathetic, etc. They are both so unpleasant that when you focus on one the other almost seems more understandable. But of course it's clear neither are a remotely warranted reaction to the dangers of the other.

[@jiseok1914]

@@salvadorromero9712 u put that into words very well

[@vidarsblade]

he is a 14 yo boy, who has been tortured, glasses to make him nearly blind and nauseated, 300+ pounds of scrap metal hanging from his body and earphones on his ears screeching, his appearance purposely made frightful. his crime being large strong, handsome and intelligent!, a danger to the system, he might make others feel bad about them selves.

[@Kurtiam]

It was part of our high school literature in 2015-2016.

[@thomastaggart8850]

If you haven't read the book this might not make sense. People are handicapped mentally as well as physically Have wrong thoughts or recollection or be too smart and the buzzing starts so you forget. Harrison is the son too. Notice the woman/ mother.is so ordinary and non threatening that she is non- handicapped. The future?

[@AJ-ql6dz]

My favorite detail was the handicapper general is not at all handicapped and i have had many long discussions on tge book and movie

[@leonelmartinez2486]

Its happening now everytime you comment something somebody doesnt agree with and slowly youll notice your good argumentative points disappearing

[@chrisgibson4248]

What makes this story unsettling is that it isn’t saying that equally is scary it’s someone’s idea of what equally should be like that’s scary

[@Jesio11]

No. It’s that equality is an impossibility, and that an attempt to force an equality of outcomes on a population of inherently unequal individuals logically ends up in an absurd tyranny.

[@chrisgibson4248]

@@Jesio11 yeah that too

[@seliteguitarist3664]

This is equity. Forcing a similar outcome be it intelligence or talent by restricting others is not equality. Even with the handicaps here you are not equal. You are punished for being better whether you worked for it or not

[@AJ-ql6dz]

The equality is probably based on the handicapper General

[@marebarreiro2627]

Can only happen when brought down to the lowest denominator.

[@shintosasaki2318]

Honestly just saw Vonnegut...and glad I stuck it out till the end.

[@The_Super_Poodle]

Foreshadowing if we keep up with all this “acceptance” and “equality”. Remember what Syndrome said - “Once everyone’s super, no one will be.”

[@M311Y]

Participation awards wouldn't have got us to the moon

[@FaeraOthronus]

THIS is what equity looks like. Equity doesn't build people up, it breaks people down to be equally low.

[@E-Kat]

This had happened at some work place, where women were asking to be paid equal wages to men's wages, so the management had decided to lower the men's wages.

[@grainofsand4176]

Fantastic demonstration for "equality of opportunity" NOT "equity"

[@llarmstrong783]

The Handicapper General didn't have to wear handicaps, did she?

[@slappy8941]

No, she's part of the ruling class.

[@Rokos_Basilisk]

She's wearing a chest weight in the interveiw scene.

[@FiveofHearts1]

"Rules for thee nor for me"

[@rickosher2185]

I remember 4 years ago when we watched this in middle school, I’d never seen it but all I remember about the film was the 18:30 amazing score and music stuck in my head all day at school.

[@LorettaFreeman-jh2sx]

I just watched this in my social studies class and I liked it ❤

[@corgi_dad]

VERY powerful film!

[@theolamp5312]

Thank you Brad, Finally a decent print of this. Now, if I can only find a decent print of Between Time And Timbuktu.

[@VisibleTrouble]

Where is Professor Barnhouse?

[@KenLieck]

I think the one(s) at the Internet Archive are as decent as you're gonna find any time soon.

[@ruh-rohraggie3891]

Not me crying in the middle of class because the teacher put this on

[@Nemo59646]

Thank you Brad!

[@EasyThere]

This future brought to you by Pfizer and BlackRock.

[@stimproid]

and the WEF

[@tbizzle1018]

I really love the dancing scene so mesmerizing

[@nalgae1989]

This story is in the Korean's english textbook..! Fun

[@Gerwald_Lanzer]

nice that is very fun!

[@HomestarCrawler]

DEI, the movie.

[@DoroteoVilla]

This was my reaction when I saw who they cast as Juliet.

[@_c3a3m_88]

I wish they didn’t kill Harrison. Would’ve loved to have seen this play out into a novel or series

[@janedagger]

The first version I saw was in the movie Between Time and Timbuktu. This one, is gorgeous... horrifying, and fuck me I"m about bawling my eyes out. Thank you.

[@Bloodforyuh]

He's fine.

[@user-of7zd6kn4c]

bro yes

[@user-of7zd6kn4c]

he’s literally delicious

[@ghostedcats.]

UGH FRRR

[@stephenholloway9395]

life is not worth living without culture and art, oh! and football

[@reflextyson3430]

doing this in ela had to watch

[@socksumi]

There was a Twilight Zone episode about this sort of thing called 'Examination Day' where young people of superior intelligence are seized and executed by the state. So families tried desperately to suppress their children's abilities. In this story we witness the heartbreak of the parents of an exceptional 12 year old boy who tried in vain to hide their son's abilities but in the end he was taken away (to be executed) by authorities for scoring too high on his 'Examination Day'.

[@BradGroux]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6ebaWiXZ7p2a7M

[@key_of_destiny4712]

This is good, but kind of takes away from Vonnegut’s original story. Vonnegut was a satirist. Let’s take a step back for a sec. He wrote Harrison Bergeron in 1961. He was writing about events that to his mind would take place 120 years into the future from his perspective. The story was not written as a warning sign or a revolutionary piece, it was simply a satirical take on what would happen if equality was taken to an extreme conclusion. The term “Haddicapper General” is dark, but humorous nonetheless if you think about it. Where I lose this is when Harrison is written as some anarchist political leader. He wasn’t. He was a man who was freakishly large (in the story, 7 feet tall) and strong. Extremely handsome and intelligent. The book goes out of its way to discuss that his handicaps were abnormally large and distracting. He doesn’t get up and threaten a bomb or spout some political take, he simply gets up, proclaims himself “the emperor,” and effortlessly removes his restraints. He then offers the title of his empress to the first dancer that stands with him. The book also goes out of its way to mention that ballerina that joins him must have been the strongest and most beautiful due to the nature of her handicaps. They dance and get shot before the broadcast gets shut down. Side note, there’s a missed line that makes me laugh whenever I read it, that is missing from this and I think it’s a pretty poignant one. When Hazel says, “I think I’d make a good Handicapper General.” George responds with, “Good as anyone else.” That line is humorous and is the crux of the story. No one is better than anyone else at anything. I’ve learned to appreciate authors like Vonnegut and Orwell a lot since HS. Nowadays, it feels like we’re living Harrison Bergeron where individualism is being stifled and exceptionalism is being demonized. I find that as time goes on we increasingly are living out stories like Harrison Bergeron and 1984. It’s kind of chilling! What was satire some 60 years ago is becoming real.

[@JustPlainAwfulStreams]

I also noticed the distinct lack of the "good as anyone else" which as you point out is quite literally the point of the entire story. the fact they missed that detail, it's not surprising they tried to turn Harrison into a revolutionary. Great write up, i agree on all points.

[@friday0408]

He says what does it matter if it's the same old ballet

[@JamieM470]

Excellent post. It was satire because the very idea that "we're all the same" is absurd. It's simply not true in humans, in nature, in all of creation. Equality is supposed to mean equal justice, but it is quickly turning into equal outcomes. A little over a decade after Harrison Bergeron was written, Neil Peart wrote The Trees. "And the trees are all kept equal by hatchet, axe, and saw." Seattle just axed all of the programs for gifted students in public schools, because the demographics were not "equal". It's why those in positions of power are now talking about "equity". If you're perceived as "less-than" from birth then you're owed something...and since they can't gift you what they think you're owed, they simply take away from and stifle those they perceive as "privileged"/"better-than". It's extreme racism---by those who claim that they're anti-racist. Welcome to Satire World.

[@user-wn5ts9vo4v]

Well I think it does take some unironic parallel to a dictatorship like nazi germany Where a government with too much control by the people take control of the people Of course it may have been unintended but it is interesting to think of nonetheless

[@dennismitchell5276]

I see the world as about opposite. The amount of competition for college. Making idols out of football players and singers. CEO's holding so much more power. The "exceptionals" have far outpaced the 99%.

[@10stone5]

Equality of Opportunity - not Equal Outcome

[@spiceforspice3461]

Both are impossible, since equality of opportunity implicitly requires equal capability, which doesn't exist.

[@citigirlcountrified1927]

Fabulous

[@sammencia7945]

Very short story. Can be read in under 15 minutes. Also not very clear that Harrison is their son.

[@llarmstrong783]

Yes it is. The story says he's their son many times. Edited: Oh you mean in this video. So sorry lol

[@liyidixcu740]

It’s stated in 1:36 that he’s their son.

[@Dr.Tinkerpaw]

Sort of made for those who are already read the original material.

[@AJ-ql6dz]

It is extremely clear

[@KenLieck]

The length is one reason the 1995 movie is no good...

[@leonelmartinez2486]

The original story made me cry, a father never understanding or knowing whats happening or whats happened to his son. He lives in ignorance forcefully

[@albinomayomonkey2544]

i was listening to lets start here by lil yachty and recognized that it samples this at the begging of the song IVE OFFICIALLY LOST ViSiON

[@sciencetroll6304]

Thhis is just so much my life,

[@alenbacco7613]

I consider this to be in the same time line as sirens of titan but its been so long sense i read either book i can remember why anymore

[@scribb_]

song at 18:00?

[@xinguan2681]

I think it’s ‘Shine a light’. Or you just search up 2081 ost

[@KenLieck]

@@xinguan2681 Yep. Performed by the Kronos Quartet...

[@Eli_A.k.a_Moss]

Bro thinks hes an anime protagonist

[@Rufflesbag]

This video is gas

[@keithmcgowan3141]

wow

[@dylangobel2923]

This is starting to happen in todays world we except everyone for who they are we give participation trophies to everyone and no student left behind they are trying to make everyone equal it’s sickening

[@garciamadrid9040]

Obama started “No Child Left Behind “ program on his presidency.

[@michaelhester1328]

Anti Socialism and pro individualism to my mind

[@Dr.Tinkerpaw]

Everyone shall be rendered equal.😊

[@Seriousgreeen]

in the story, Harrison declairs himself emperor. The Strongest shall rule " the government in power is the exact opposite. so you have 2 opposing forms of rule. Harrison was a terrorist. the government in control is tyrrany.

[@annikaponnio1745]

just scary...bbrrrrrr

[@user-gh3mw1xd4o]

He's 20 not 14

[@yezis1]

😳

[@DoroteoVilla]

And this is why you cast a very homely black girl as Juliet.

[@carlosvaldezcarrion1884]

OI

[@evilnick2885]

Build Back Better

[@martincollins1805]

Harrison's 'method' takes 'woke' to mean radical, revolutionary and profoundly rebellious, which, back in Kurt's day, was what modern art and artist's aspired to...before failing miserably. Meanwhile the 'woke' are the current 'Handicap Generals' en masse, shaming the 'outsiders' into conformity to 'correct,' inclusive Borg-like 'equality' with a fist full of pronouns. 'You can't tell them apart' they would opine when Kurt's generation of boys grew long hair, but today they come out platinum blonde beehives and pose for ugly nude centrefolds. Meanwhile in Kurt's time the 'avant garde' were into hard core minimilism, and no=one was allowed to say the shoe box sculpture was a lousy experience, coz if you 'don't get it' you're a loser, and insensitive...though it was a crap experience...and still is. I'm not sure if Kurt would prefer to sh*t or spit..on a consideration of progress,.but I'm sure he would like this movie ...with a ballsy Mr Bergeron, the inspirational rebel who addressed the crowd, with uplifting beauty ...and this is good.

[@billstorie1186]

...and here we are now in a world where creators in general are not allowed to have a mass audience for their work unless they tick the right boxes and subscribe to the approved ideologies, where in fact the the works on which today's media was build and the actual historical foundations of our reality is being changed, redacted, retconned (emphasis on the "con") and "amended" in order to avoid certain people getting upset by the truth of the real. As a recent grandfather my biggest fear now is that my grandchildren may never know the truth of reality and THAT will be our fault for not standing up to this idiocy. The very qualities that made humans the dominant species on this planet are now a subject of embarrassment and instead of celebrating and enjoying the victories of those who can, and allowing those victories to inspire us to greater heights we are being turned into the society Vonnegut satirises here. That rattling noise in the corner, the one "they" don't want us to acknowledge, is the sound of old Kurt and his pantheon spinning in their graves. It's not new, the fact that this story even exists is testament to that fact, but unless we are all very careful, it may be the last time such a story is even allowed to be told...closely followed by the time when it could not even be created.

[@bagoobia]

Capitalism has brought us to this world…A shame 😢😢

[@DoroteoVilla]

No, Socialism has.

[@lisajenne7151]

You have missed the point entirely. Capitalism supports and rewards individual success; Socialism supports group equality despite effort or achievement. Our current world shames achievement and being exceptional - which is more of a socialist approach. Socialism has brought us to this world. What's the easiest/cheapest way to make everyone equal? Bring everyone lower. Lower standards of living, lower expectations, lower everything. It's takes much less effort all around.

[@DoroteoVilla]

@@lisajenne7151 it’s ironic that Kurt Vonnegut, an avowed leftist, stumbled upon this fundamental truth. The need for self-esteem, to not feel “like something the cat dragged in” has dragged all of us down and created a culture where to be exceptional and talented is to be wretched and undeserving.

[@connorlecates2426]

Lame ahh movie😹‼️💔😖

[@papaq3810]

Pipe down connor