The Theory of Everything

Seen at the wonderful Roxy Cinema in Nowra, New South Wales

Bea says: I was keen to see this as I have a professional interest in people living with long term conditions, and enjoyed the Brief History of Time television series in the ?late 90s/early 2000s.  Stephen Hawking's long survival with MND, and his work, are often both discussed in the media, but his early life is not so much.

This was a great story of a marriage - in many ways the challenges that Stephen's condition presented were just part and parcel of the challenges that come with marriage, and particularly marriage in the late 60s/early 70s for women.  The film is an adaptation of the book of the same name by Jane Wilde, Stephen Hawking's first wife, and covers their courtship, early married life and the birth of their children, all while Stephen's physical condition declines, his fame increases and the pressures on Jane increase leaving her little, if no, space for being her own self as well.  Unsurprisingly, the marriage cracks under the strain, and the break up scenes are very well done, as are the amicable later years meetings.  The early involvement of the people that both Stephen and Jane move on with is very interestingly and well done too.

Stephen's poor prognosis and worsening condition is well drawn - particularly the scene where he has come round after having a tracheotomy and the realisation that he will never speak again dawns on him.  From this scene, and a few others, the film also documents the advancements in technology that have helped him so much.

A good portrayal of relationships beginning, during and ending, with the added complications of a long term condition, and genius thrown in, all with a middle-class Cambridge backdrop.  Essential viewing and excellent performances from the cast.

***

Cecil says: I was very moved by this film, more than I had expected actually. I guess this maybe because really until this film, I knew little about Hawking, except that he was that clever bloke in a wheelchair with the electronic voice. I'd read none of his books, seen no TV series about him, so really knew nothing about the guy.

But this is a wonderful portrayal of his life, or as Bea says, his marriage and relationships above all.

It's hard to add much to what Bea said on this one. But I guess my own perception of degenerative diseases has been shaped by living for a while with someone who had MS, and reading the extraordinary autobiography by Jill Tweedie, who also had MND, but did not survive as long as Hawking. And I think there's something overwhelmingly powerful about how people deal with the slow progression of such illnesses (though quite how Hawking has managed just to go on and on is in itself an example to us all).

Bit of a cliché really, but it's the kind of film that makes me appreciate what I have in life.

Beautifully acted also by Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones (was trying to remember where else I've seen her, but looking back through her filmography, can only see 'Like Crazy', a 2011 movie that I don't think I rated as highly as this one).

****