By TIM PECK

Ayn Rand’s Objectivism is a comprehensive, organic and consistent philosophical system exemplified in artistic form in her famous magnum opus “Atlas Shrugged” – published in 1957 and a best-seller today with 7 million copies sold.

Now, a new and eagerly awaited movie based on the book will receive a showing in the Asheville area, and around the country, this month, opening on Tax Day. It is Part One of a proposed three-part movie series and promises to bring renewed interest to the author’s controversial views, which are gaining in popularity even without the film’s assistance.

The film will approximate the novel somewhat faithfully, as all such earnest projects do (the filmmaker spent 20 years and $20M of his own money). And by all accounts from devotees, this first installment is not altogether bad; which was the main fear.

Seeing it, you will learn something about the characters, the story and the philosophical ideas embedded in the “plot-theme.”
The screenplay and production quality are quite good and the performers are unknown to the big screen (also good, in my opinion). All in all, I suggest it will be a worthwhile viewing for those interested in an improved understanding of the author’s great contribution to literature, philosophy and human understanding.

To be sure, many remain hostile to Ayn Rand and her ideas. Some because of her devotion to the absolute primacy of reason and science over belief and dogma.

Others because she unequivocally champions individual rights, rational self-interest and a thoroughly laizzez-faire political-economy.

And others still because they are simply unamiliar with the foundational material and rely on biased vilification to draw undigested conclusions.

I would urge those few genuinely interested in clarifying their impressions of Rand to simply go and see the movie and enjoy. Better yet, go and read the No. 2 best-selling book in the world and discover why its appeal is quickening, why the fable told there grows less fictional every day and why Rand called hers “a philosophy for living on Earth.”
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Tim Peck, a Montford resident, is an Objectivist.