The Theory of Everything
The Theory of EverythingCert 12A, 2h 3m
Directed by: James Marsh
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones
Doors open 7:00pm, Film 7:30, Supper 9:45pm £6, wine £11/bottle
Last bookings 1200 Sunday 17th May – film £6 pay at the door
Bookings: filmnight@rockbournevillagehall.org.uk or phone: Lucy Matthews 01725 518695
Even for those of us who admit to not understanding very much of his theories, Stephen Hawking is undoubtedly our most famous public intellectual, with a reputation rivalling that of Einstein. His fame is, of course, partly due to the extreme nature of his physical disability with motor neurone disease, which was diagnosed when he was only 21 years old as a Cambridge student.
This moving and life affirming film, directed by James Marsh and based on the memoires of Stephen’s ex-wife Jane Hawking, stars Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables, My Week With Marilyn) who deservedly won an ‘Oscar’ for his brilliant and sensitive portrayal of Hawking, and once again Felicity Jones is quite wonderful as Jane.
Given just two years to live following the diagnosis Stephen Hawking became galvanized by the love of fellow Cambridge student, Jane Wilde, whom he married. They had three children. Over the course of their marriage as Stephen’s body collapsed and his academic renown soared, fault lines were exposed that tested their relationship. The Daily Telegraph says of Eddie Redmayne’s performance, “his performance is everything you could ask for: completely convincing in its physicality, credible in its pain, and warmly but not crassly optimistic in its nearly constant good temper.” The most harrowing scene is almost wordless, as Hawking inches his agonised way up the stairs to where his baby son Robert looks on from above, dumbly witnessing his own father’s regression to sub-toddler mobility.
You will never forget this remarkable, thought provoking and inspiring film.
John Crome
Next film 17th June: Kevin Kline, Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott-Thomas in My Old Lady