It is possible to know a little about history of science from the cinema, watching productions that present the life and work of personalities who, in one way or another, were involved in scientific research and changed the course of society. Check out seven of these titles below.
Films that tell stories about scientists are sometimes misinterpreted as mere bait for high school students to learn about science. But they are much more than that.
“Radium Girls” (2018)
Directed by Lycia Dean Pilcher and Ginny Mohler, the film tells the story of sisters Bessie and Jo (played by Joey King and Abby Quinn), who worked in a New Jersey factory, painting glow-in-the-dark watch faces.
When Jo falls ill, they discover the truth: the green pigment in the paint it was the radioactive element radium . The case forced the creation of new workplace safety protocols and regulations on the handling of radioactive materials.
The film was not released in Brazil and is not available on any streaming platform.
“Creation” (2009)
Paul Bettany — an actor known for playing the character Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films — appears in the plot as the tortured Charles Darwin, torn between faith and science.
Directed by Englishman Jon Amiel, the film covers a delicate moment in the life of the naturalist who, far from his wife Emma (Jennifer Connelly), tries to complete his epic “The Origin of Species” .
The film is not available on streaming platforms.
“Radioactive” (2019)
Directed by Iranian Marjane Satrapi, the film portrays one of the greatest personalities in history, mainly for his contributions to science: Polish physicist and chemist Marie Curie .
Starring Rosamund Pike, the plot shows the difficulties a woman faces in gaining respect in the scientific community, even though she has discovered one of the most fundamental elements in the history of humanity.
The film is not available on streaming platforms.
“Hidden Figures” (2016)
Directed by Theodore Melfi, the story tells the daily lives of three black mathematicians, Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), who work at NASA and play a fundamental role in launching astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
While solving complicated equations, they have to deal with racial and gender discrimination in the work environment.
The production is available to Disney+ subscribers.
“The Imitation Game” (2014)
Under the direction of Norwegian Morten Tyldum, actor Benedict Cumberbatch gives one of his most memorable performances when he plays the English mathematician Alan Turing — a scientist responsible for, together with his colleague Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley) and a team of code breakers, deciphering the German Enigma machine to detect Nazi targets in World War II.
At the same time as he won the war for the Allies, Turing was forced to deal with his sexuality. considered “inadequate” by the government at the time . Today, however, the mathematician’s face appears on the £50 note.
The film is available for streaming on Netflix, Max and Prime Video.
“The Theory of Everything” (2014)
Based on the life of Stephen Hawking, this film shows how the young astrophysicist, played by Eddie Redmayne, reconciled his mind eager for new discoveries, his relationship with his Cambridge colleague, Jane Wide (Felicity Jones), and his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 21.
The scientist was given a survival expectancy of just three years by doctors, however, he lived for another 50 years.
Directed by Englishman James Marsh, the film is available to Disney+ subscribers.
“Oppenheimer” (2023)
One of the most awarded films in history, Oppenheimer was directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. and Cillian Murphy. Murphy plays the protagonist, J. Robert Oppenheimer.
The film tells the story of the theoretical physicist’s role in the development of the first atomic bomb, which killed more than 200,000 people.
The production is available on Amazon’s streaming service, Prime Video.
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
