Plot
English naturalist Charles Darwin struggles to find a balance between his revolutionary theories on evolution and the relationship with religious wife, whose faith contradicts his work.
Release Year: 2009
Rating: 6.6/10 (6,066 voted)
Critic's Score: 51/100
Director:
Jon Amiel
Stars: Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, Ian Kelly
Storyline What happens when a world-renowned scientist, crushed by the loss of his eldest daughter, formulates a theory in conflict with religious dogma? This is the story of Charles Darwin and his master-work "The Origin of Species". It tells of a global revolution played out the confines of a small English village; a passionate marriage torn apart by the most dangerous idea in history; and a theory saved from extinction by the logic of a child.
Writers: John Collee, Jon Amiel
Cast: Paul Bettany
-
Charles Darwin
Ian Kelly
-
Captain Fitzroy
Guy Henry
-
Technician
Martha West
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Annie Darwin
Anabolena Rodriguez
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Fuegia Basket
Paul Campbell
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Boat Memory
Zak Davies
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Jemmy Button
Teresa Churcher
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Mrs. Davies
Jennifer Connelly
-
Emma Darwin
Freya Parks
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Etty Darwin
Jim Carter
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Parslow
Christopher Dunkin
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George Darwin
Gene Goodman
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Franky Darwin
Harrison Sansostri
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Lenny Darwin
Benedict Cumberbatch
-
Joseph Hooker
Filming Locations: Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England, UK
Box Office Details
Budget: £10,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: £199,477
(UK)
(27 September 2009)
(246 Screens)
Gross: $340,611
(USA)
(23 May 2010)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Charles Darwin married his cousin Emma Wedgwood. They had ten children together.
Quotes:
[from trailer]
Charles Darwin:
Suppose the whole world stopped believing that God had any sort of plan for us?
User Review
Great film, poignant, humanistic, and still surprisingly timely.
Rating: 9/10
I saw the world premiere at the Toronto International Film Fest, this
is a great film.
Real-life husband and wife Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly star as
Charles and Emma Darwin in the midst of their struggle through the
writing of and decision to publish "Origin of Species". Their
consideration of the ramifications it may have for their family and the
future of humankind are conveyed in such a manner that one suspects
only an off-screen couple could achieve.
Jon Amiel (who gave a heart-felt introduction) and John Collee do and
excellent job of bringing Randal Keynes' biography to life. They
created some very poignant and human moments, great cinematography and
sets and a generous helping of tongue-in-cheek about the still divisive
theory of evolution.
The surprise star is Martha West who plays Annie Darwin, the character
around whom much of the story unfurls. She plays the precocious young
girl to a tee. If this performance is anything to go by her star should
be on the rise.
All in all a great film, and although it is a period drama the issues
that drive it are still very much alive today.
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