Agreed. The We the Living film is the best Ayn Rand-based movie. They really got it, and the artistry is first rate for 40s film.

Is there a English version that you know of?

yes, I loved that.

Interesting for an AR book to end up in a public school or university reading list.

You might like to have a look at the course guide to see how they're expecting the book to be treated.

For all you know, they might be looking to smear the book and Ayn Rand, and make your daughter even more socialist.

Start a thread here and participate in the discussion together.

THAT is totally cool. Anthem has the power to cut across and through the "liberal/socialist-influenced" thought/behavior because it can appeal directly to the emerging sense of a teenagers self perception and self awareness that is so crucial to the underpinnings of the rest of his/her life.

I say this because that is exactly what Anthem provided me as a pre-teenager. And gee, without government mandated counselors.

I was very young and looking for a verification of what I was so early formulating as a framework of thought that could provide an operable basis for life.

Anthem, and the other major pieces of Ayn Rand's work - and the experiences of sitting alone on my ten-speed on the Concord Bridge in Massachusetts are intensely integral to my life.

I sat there on Concord Bridge trying to understand why certain people would resist significant and apparently overwhelming forces at the risk of their very lives.

I directly struggled with the immediately evident understanding that these individuals chose to possibly- and likely - die as a result of "resisting the king" than to live with a life arbitrarily determined by others than themselves.

What "belief system" is worth more than life itself if it comes down to it? This is a huge visceral question for which many have given their lives as the very testimonial answer to the question.

It is the "how did they know" question that haunts me the most about when it comes time to expend your utmost - as an individual - in the name of that freedom - and give it all.

Sometimes what your kids don't know won't hurt them. If she thinks you are reading the book at the same time she is taking the class, she might think that you are interfering (a mistake I made). If It were me, I would read the book, and get a copy of the "Cliff Notes" to. It never hurts to be a little bit "Omnipotent" when trying to overcome the socialistic school system. Like in a military campaign, it is always better to be on the higher ground and keep the enemy guessing. Curiosity is also a powerful tool with kids. I would bet she will at some point ask you how you know so much about the book, but I wouldn't say any more than the minimum.

I haven't seen a picture of Ayn Rand when she was younger, but I think you are right/

No, not just you. I see the resemblance you are speaking if.

Apparently AR was highly unimpressed with the movie.

Here an admitted Ayn Rand (due to AS DVDs) newbie, I had Netflix snail mail the FH several months ago.
I was very impressed and gave it a full five stars.
Then within a week I was channel surfing and found it playing on Turner.
I was all like "What?!?"

You should applaud yourself. Not many in life manage to start using their minds and take command of who they are. When I was in my early 20's I started down the path of the character "Ellsworth Toohey", only I discovered that I really had a talent for reading people and influence. It became an amusement. Fortunately a stranger cornered me at work and made me face the direction I was going. The more intelligent, the more power we have to be destructive. Intelligence prevents us from using it.

I like the Fountainhead more than Atlas Shrugged initially as well.

I think the reason I preferred it, is that it is a more personal novel than AS was. Atlas Shrugged was not as personal, the novel's focus shifted among a group of protagonists, Hank, Francisco, Dagny, John Gault. It was also focused more on the society and its decay.

The Fountainhead was more focused on one man and his insistence on being true to himself despite societies efforts to make him conform.

I think that focus is why it strikes a more intense chord with the individual.

Lucky you read it so early in life. I still haven't read the book (but will soon, I want to read Anthem First). Today there are a lot more Toohey's in the world, but there still are a few Roark's and John Gault's.

Two different hero's for two different eras. I to prefer the optimism in The Fountainhead. John Gault had a tougher road to travel if you think about it. He was more like one of the officers on the Titanic that loaded the passengers that were smart enough to "withdraw" while the ship went down.

"how one must at times self sacrifice personal integrity to maintain integrity"

how did Roark sacrifice his integrity?
If Roark is like a diety to you, I think you've missed some important concepts in the book, sunjock. So I assume you mean this in hyperbole :)

Does the DVD have any additional features? In iTunes they have only the movie, although it was very good quality for a B&W from that period.

it's not right, but it is the result of a culture which condones stealing

Jan, I agree with you that, even after many years and maturation, I just don't get Dominique. But there is so much more of value in Fountainhead. It's kind of like watching AS3. I just can't like the actress who played Dagny, but the rest of the movie is so good it's worth watching.

I think Dominique is very interesting. She worked on the belief that good achievement was impossible. I have met many such people in my life, who otherwise were brilliant and doers but their cynicism kept them from trying to achieve higher aims. We all can feel this way occasionally. She just represents a pure version of it. There are gulchers in here just like that. ahem, lucky. jan, can you think of anyone? :)
But I agree it is annoying as hell watching her struggle against herself and how she tries to hurt others. Toohey to me is worth reading the book for-alone. Evilest character I've read that was not a monster.

She sure did.

We bought it on iTunes, and if I can just get caught up again, we will watch it again. That says a lot since we rarely watch a movie twice.