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We often watch movies to immerse ourselves in a fantasy world, escaping the reality we live in. Sometimes however we encounter movies that lead us contemplating as to why life works the way it is. Two and Two directed by Babek Avery is such a movie that leaves you reflecting upon totalitarianism, tyranny, authoritarianism, and fundamentalism amongst others.

The movie starts in an otherwise seemingly normal classroom. A dim-lit room bursting with the energy of young bright boys, their chatter and fervor, which get silenced as soon as the door opens. As the door opens we see the classroom adapt to the tunes of a very conservative, tyrannical system, where the tyrant is none but the teacher.  The almost black and white shots throughout also draw parallels to the sheer rigidity and uncompromising environment to which the children are exposed.

After a stern announcement coming from the speakers, the teacher proceeds to teach the first lesson for the day `2 + 2 = 5`.

`2+2=5` a phrase that can be traced back to many thought experiments in history was popularised by 1984 a novel written by George Orwell. The phrase inspired heavily by the soviet union and nazi propaganda was used to establish how an illogical statement might be utilized by a totalitarian regime.

In the movie, the teacher makes the students repeat after him, like puppets. After meeting with some resistance initially he goes on to continue reinforcing the utterly nonsensical lesson. However, he is soon met with strong resistance from one particular student. This one student is unwilling to accept the gospel and is stubborn about disproving the lesson. As the teacher remains unsuccessful in the initial attempts to silence the student, he proceeds to take help. By citing senior students as ideal role models the teacher further tries to re-educate this student. The teacher, realizing that violence might be required in re-educating this student, pressurizes the student to accept or be silenced forever. The subversive student however chooses the latter and ends up teaching an important lesson to their classmates, "Accept or be silenced".

The movie is also rich in symbolism of various kinds which can be attributed heavily to totalitarian forms of governments. The initial announcement happening at a particular time every day in the classroom signifies the radio/media owned by the state used in spreading propaganda. The ideal, senior students also wear a red armband inspired by nazi ideology displaying their allegiance to the system.

The teacher ignoring what has happened continues with their lesson. However, as the movie concludes, we see one student who does not question, nor accepts the lesson but rather accepts the truth and keeps it to themself.


It also outlines the broad categories of people living in a totalitarian regime and how they are dealt with i.e. the ones that oppress, the ones that accept, the ones that openly deny, and the ones that deny but do not resist. 

The movie ends up leaving a lot of questions in the eyes of the spectator such as What is truth? What is the value of truth? Is resistance worth the price? Does truth matter? 

Summing up, the two and two is a gripping short film that leaves you thinking with its simple yet effective storyline augmented by its surrealism.

