10 films about outstanding scientists and science

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Obvious pictures like "Mind Games" and "Imitation Games" will not be in this collection.

10. Dangerous method

• UK, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, USA, 2011.
• Thriller, drama, melodrama, biography.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

Sabine Spielrein suffers from a mental disorder. The girl is taken under the care of Dr. Carl Jung, who uses the methods of Sigmund Freud in his therapy. Over time, Karl and Sabina become lovers, despite the fact that both have families. Meanwhile, a deep friendship develops between Jung and Freud.

The film was directed by David Cronenberg - the famous Canadian director, known for thrillers and horrors ("The Fly", "Justified Cruelty", "Existence" and others). "Dangerous Method" is a biography, but its director also shoots in the genre of an oppressive thriller. In addition, this film is distinguished not only by a brilliant directorial work: the film also starred high-profile actors such as Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender.

9. Origin

• UK, 2009.
• Drama, melodrama, biography.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

The biographical tape tells the story of Charles Darwin, the famous author of the theory of human origins. The path of discovery is not easy for a scientist: he is torn between faith and science, suffers from hallucinations. Complicating the situation is that, in parallel, the scientist is struggling to maintain a relationship with his devout wife.

The film is intended not to explain to the viewer all the subtleties of Darwin's theory, but rather to lift the veil of the scientist's personal life. The picture is saturated with psychologism, much attention is paid to the spiritual quest of the great man. The role of a revolutionary in science was brilliantly played by Paul Bettany, and his wife was played by the charming Jennifer Connelly.

8. Gorillas in the fog

• USA, 1988.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 129 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Diane Fossey decides to devote her life to studying primates. Traveling through the depths of Africa, Diane observes rare mountain gorillas from the jungles of Rwanda. The scientist is developing ways to communicate with them and is very worried about poaching. Trying to protect her charges, the woman is ready to go into conflicts with the government and even put her life on the altar of animal welfare.

The film tells the real story of Diane Fossey's difficult life. Sigourney Weaver won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Film. It is noteworthy that in the same year the actress took another statuette in the same nomination - for the film "Business Woman".

7. Einstein and Eddington

• UK, USA, 2008.
• Drama, biography, history.
• Duration: 94 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Sir Arthur Eddington is a renowned Cambridge University physicist and Newtonian. However, soon the scientific community is shocked by the statement of the German-Swiss scientist Albert Einstein, who suggests the fallacy of Newton's theory. Despite the bans and tensions between Great Britain and Germany, the two scientists strike up a correspondence. And later it will lead to discoveries that will lay the foundation for modern physics.

The film shows non-exalted geniuses detached from everything earthly - it opens the viewer's eyes to the fact that both Eddington and Einstein were living people. They too suffered, made bad decisions, and worked hard. In addition to an unusual outlook on the life of the greats, acting is considered an indisputable advantage of the film. Eddington performed by David Tennant and Einstein Andy Serkis turned out to be incredibly convincing.

6. Challenger

• UK, USA, 2013.
• Drama, history.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

The Challenger is a NASA spacecraft that was not destined to go into outer space for the tenth time. The shuttle disintegrated in the 73rd second of flight on the morning of January 28, 1986, and this became one of the most shocking events in the history of American astronautics.

A commission is immediately convened to study the causes of the ship's wreck. However, there are many interested parties in this matter. The only truly independent expert is the scientist Richard Feynman, who received the Nobel Prize for his discoveries in quantum physics.

The role of the famous physicist is played by William Hurt. The actor not only looks like Richard Feynman - he also stunningly got used to the role, being able to literally copy his prototype. The advantage of the picture is not only the acting, but also an interesting plot. For its artistic merit, the film received an award from the Royal Television Society as the best dramatic television film.

5. Hawking

• UK, 2004.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

The film is a biography about the life and work of Stephen Hawking. He is working on his dissertation on string theory and is also battling Lou Gehrig's progressive disease. The disease gradually takes away from a man the ability to move and speak. But even this is not capable of breaking the spirit of a scientist.

The main role in the film was played by Benedict Cumberbatch. His Hawking is witty and charming, and the actor reveals these qualities even under the guise of immobility. He brilliantly gets used to the role, showing all the stages of destruction of the human body.

By the way, genius heroes later became Cumberbatch's hobbyhorse ("Sherlock", "End of the Parade", "Doctor Strange").

4. Nine days of one year

• USSR, 1962.
• Drama.
• Duration: 111 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Two young scientists - Dmitry Gusev and Ilya Kulikov - work in the field of nuclear physics. However, outside the laboratory, they are not only good friends, but also rivals who are fighting for Lyolya's heart. Later, Dmitry marries a girl and makes an important discovery. Suddenly, a happy life is overshadowed by a serious illness of a scientist. But even a terrible diagnosis is not able to prevent Dmitry from conducting research.

The film was shot by the great Soviet director and screenwriter Mikhail Romm. The tape has long become a classic of Russian cinema and influenced the development of Soviet cinema.

The main role in the film is played by the inimitable Alexei Batalov. According to polls of the magazine "Soviet Screen", the actor became the best among colleagues in 1962.

3. Awakening

• USA, 1990.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 121 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

1969 year. Dr. Malcolm Sayer is hired as a clinician at a local hospital in the Bronx. Most of his patients are in a state of "freezing", they even have to eat and drink with the help of strangers. Malcolm notes that some "numb" patients react in unusual ways to certain stimuli. He conducts research and concludes that all of these patients have suffered encephalitis. This means that there can be a cure for their ailment.

The film is based on real events that happened to the neurologist Oliver Sachs. Later, the scientist presented his memories in his memoirs. Oliver Sachs is also the author of a large number of popular science works on mental disorders. Among them are the famous "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat", "Anthropologist on Mars" and others.

Starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams watched Sachs and his patients for a long time before starting work on the film.

2. Hidden figures

• USA, 2016.
• Drama, biography, history.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Catherine Johnson is an African American woman with unique mathematical abilities. Catherine works for NASA as a human computer - a special employee who helps to make calculations quickly and correctly.

In the US-Soviet race to conquer space, NASA is seeking to send its man into space. Then the department that is working on this project is assigned to help Catherine. There, a woman faces neglect and unfair treatment both because of her gender and because of her skin color.

The film is based on real events from the life of the American scientist Catherine Johnson. The film on an acute social theme has earned the attention of both the public and film awards. Hidden Figures received many nominations in various sections, as well as four statuettes from various film awards.

The tape is distinguished not only by a brilliant acting ensemble, but also by an excellent soundtrack from Hans Zimmer himself.

1. Temple Grandin

• USA, 2010.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Temple Grandin is a young woman with autism since childhood. Despite the diagnosis, she goes to college. Temple is convinced that animals that are raised for slaughter deserve a different kind of care. She advocates humane slaughter methods. But the gifted Temple finds it so difficult to communicate with people! Will she be able to change the livestock industry despite these challenges?

The role of Temple Grandin in the film went to Claire Danes. The actress brilliantly coped with the task and in all the subtleties showed the vision of the world of a person suffering from autism. Danes' game was noted not only by the audience, but also by prestigious film awards such as Emmy, Golden Globe and Actors Guild Award.