The story of the onset and early years of Steven Hawking’s tragic illness offers a poignant insight into the physical and emotional struggles of not just a brilliant man, but indeed a remarkable women in his wife, Jane.
By Keeva Stratton
The film begins with Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) as a young student at Cambridge. As he embarks on his science PhD, it’s clear that this young man is a special talent. As much he is brilliant of mind, he is awkward in his social pursuits, yet he somehow manages to capture the interest of a young arts student, Jane (Felicity Jones).
They begin to date, and Hawking begins to formulate his theoretical approach when a seemingly minor accident leads to a life changing diagnosis. Hawking has motor neurone disease, and is given two years to live. There’s nothing the doctors can do, and he is told that his body will rapidly lose function, while his mind remains as it is.
Somewhat surprisingly (given their relatively short courtship), Jane stands by him, despite the obvious challenges to come. What follows is the journey of a couple and a family, as they struggle to overcome the physical and emotional challenges of living in the shadow of a degenerative disease.
To think that Steven Hawking is 72 years of age today defies belief, especially given the physical difficulties he has had to endure (motor neurone disease continues to have an average life expectancy of around 27 months).
And while Hawking’s story is indeed fascinating, perhaps the more engaging story here is Jane’s. How this woman continued to support this man, having dated for only a short period, in a time that was especially harsh for people with disabilities, and with seemingly little support, is an incredible story in itself.
The film focuses more on the human stories rather than the science, which came as a relief to me, but will no doubt disappoint some. Hawking’s brilliance as a physicist is well known, but little light had been shed on the personal struggles that accompanied such a debilitating disease.
The very physical performance of Eddie Redmayne has rightly caught the attention of the Academy, and will be difficult to beat. He manages to contort his body into a very believable representation of Hawking’s condition.
The screenplay itself is an adaptation of Jane Hawking’s book, which would explain why so much of the film focuses on their relationship, rather than Hawking’s many achievements. It’s wonderfully done, and it’s refreshing to see a film focus on the subject of a serious disability in a mature and human way.
The Theory of Everything is a beautiful story about love in the face of adversity. Watch the trailer below.
Directed by: James Marsh
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones
Rating: PG
Runtime: 123mins
Release Date: January 29
Reviewer rating: 4/5
