Wednesday, November 14, 2012

New Zealand premiere of CODEBREAKER movie

This is exciting news. I've been in communication with Patrick Sammon the Executive Producer of the acclaimed drama documentary CODEBREAKER, about the life of Alan Turing. I can now announce that we have arranged a "special screening" of CODEBREAKER - the first time its been shown in NZ.

Thursday 6 December 2012 6.00pm
Location:  University of Auckland
Owen G Glenn Building B4 (260-073)

Refreshments 5.30pm before the movie, location tbc
FREE Entry

A new drama documentary about the heroic life, tragic death, and lasting legacy of Alan Turing. Turing set in motion the digital revolution and his World War II codebreaking helped turn the tide of war.  He is one of the 20th century's most important scientists, yet few people have heard his name, know his story, or understand his legacy. 
    CODEBREAKER tells the story of this maverick British genius who was crucial to founding three new fields of science as well as breaking the Nazis' naval Enigma code during World War II.  Historians credit his codebreaking with helping to shorten the war by two years and saving millions of lives.  As the founding father of computer science and artificial intelligence, Alan Turing envisioned our digital world long before anyone else.
   Turing’s visionary brilliance was overshadowed by his conviction for "gross indecency" with another man in 1952.  He was forced to undergo so-called “organo-therapy” (chemical castration) to “change” his sexual orientation.  In despair, Turing committed suicide in 1954.  He was only 41 years old.
  Instead of being celebrated, Turing's achievements were largely forgotten.  CODEBREAKER rediscovers the extraordinary life and ideas of the man who many scientists perceive today as the digital Darwin, a scientific great on a par with Einstein and Newton. 
   This film broadcast on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom in November of 2011, attracting 1.5 million viewers and receiving good reviews.  The Times described the film as “…an overdue and thoroughly honourable telling of this dreadful story.”  Another critic pronounced it as “awe-inspring.”  The Sunday Times called it “powerful” and “imaginative.” 

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