Garin Granata

Last night some friends of mine sat down to discuss a novel written in the late 1800s by Edwin A. Abbott, a mathematics teacher and priest. As I read the first the few pages, it seemed that I was reading standard science fiction fare about an alien world. In many ways I was correct because this world was a completely two-dimensional one. However, the story deepens to explore subjects such as politics, discrimination, social class, freedom of speech and religious tolerance.

As we discussed our impressions of the story, I was impressed me how easily each of us related some narrative aspect to our own personal experience. Midway through the story our protagonist, A. Square, is visited by a being from the third dimension. This being is a sphere and can only be seen in cross-section by the Flatlanders. As the sphere passes through the two-dimensional world it is perceived as a point which widens to a circle until it shrinks again to a point and disappears. Fortunately, the being’s voice can be heard even if it’s form can’t be seen.

A. Square has a “vision” in which the being takes him out of Flatland to the three-dimensional world of Spaceland. He looks down on Flatland as he floats about effortlessly with his alien guide. This bird’s-eye view provides him the ability to see inside everything and everyone, a perspective which is impossible to Flatlanders. He struggles to comprehend this vision, but is indelibly changed by the experience.

We downloaded a film version of this story from iTunes titled “Flatland the Movie” (www.flatlandthemovie.com/). There are two film versions, but we couldn’t find a quick method to download and watch the earlier version titled “Flatland the Film” by Ladd Ehlinger, Jr. (http://www.flatlandthefilm.com/). “Flatland the Movie” was a short 30 minute story based on the book. It was engaging and true to the spirit of the book despite the obvious alteration of Flatland women. You see, Flatland women are strictly lines. If a woman does not sufficiently announce her arrival she can unintentonally impale other Flatlanders with deadly results–more on that later. The movie was beautifully produced and the voice talents of Martin Sheen and Michael York were well cast.