The theory of everything, discovering a genius

Much has been said about the life of Stephen Hawking, his illness, his great sense of humor and his contributions to physics. The theory of everything is a film directed by James Marsh in 2014, a film that tries to bring us closer to the most everyday and human side of the British physicist.. It is inspired by the work Traveling to infinity: my life with Stephen by Jane Hawking, Stephen’s first wife, an autobiographical work in which Jane recounts her years with Stephen Hawking.

The film was well received by critics and received several Oscar nominations, although only Eddie Redmayne won the award for best actor.. It was not easy to bring the film to the cinema, it was not easy to have the approval of Jane and Stephen, since it is a very personal story, which requires extreme delicacy. A very risky bet considering that the approval of the two protagonists is necessary.

When watching the first version of the film, Stephen Hawking himself offered his characteristic voice for the film, praised Redmayne’s work and even became emotional. The theory of everything, far from becoming a drama, excites us, moves us and captures us; It brings us closer to the other side of the genius’s life, to a more bitter side, to that of a person who also makes mistakes and who has an exceptional sense of humor despite having lost the mobility of his body.

Sometimes, we idealize illustrious and world-known people, we think that their lives are very different from ours, that they never suffer, that they are perfect, that money gives everything… The theory of everything It shows us the person behind the genius, in the good and the bad, in the naturalness of his daily life; without leaving Jane asidewhich is an example of struggle, but above all, it reminds us of the importance of love, of loving despite obstacles.

After his death, much has been said about Hawking’s life and his scientific work; there is no doubt that he was one of the great geniuses of the 20th and 21st centuries and will always be remembered. The theory of everything It was a tribute in life, a beautiful portrait of that most familiar facet, a tribute to his wife, his children and also a gift for all viewers.

Overcoming in The Theory of Everything

The film begins at a university party where a young Stephen Hawking meets his future wife, Jane. They both seem very different: he is a scientist, she is a writer; He is an atheist, she is a believer, but very soon feelings will arise between them. After a while, Stephen will begin to feel the first symptoms of a strange illness, which would soon be diagnosed as motor neurone disease (related to ALS)..

The diagnosis occurred when Hawking was just 21 years old, he was preparing his doctoral thesis and a bright future awaited him; but the doctors assured him that he would not live more than two years. For this reason, he decides to distance himself from Jane and hide the truth from her, although not for long.

Jane, upon discovering what is happening to Stephen, decides to stay by his side, no matter what happens and even though time seems to be against her. It is well known today that Stephen Hawking not only managed to surpass those two years of life that were predicted for him, but has also become an example of improvement. and no wheelchair managed to stop the British physicist’s research.

The film takes us to the suffering of young Hawking, the fear and initial denial upon learning the terrible diagnosis, his internal struggle, acceptance, anger… We go through all the phases thanks to the magnificent performance of Eddie Redmayne, without leaving aside the fundamental Jane, played by Felicity Jones. Against all odds, Jane and Stephen started a family, they had three children; He continued to dedicate his life to science and Jane, without any help, took care of everything else.

Jane’s sacrifice and devotion to Stephen is surprising, especially when he refuses to accept help.e refuses to acknowledge that, in a home with three small children and a husband who can barely help her, Jane feels frustrated. She leaves everything for him, for her family, she becomes the great support of the physics genius.

The wonderful thing about The theory of everything is that it not only exalts the figure of Hawking, but also shows us his most human face and, above all, becomes an applause for Jane, a bow before a woman who was capable of everything for love, an unstoppable fighter, whose work It is the germ of the film we are watching. Overcoming is the key to the film, not only in Stephen, but also in Jane.

Life Lessons in The Theory of Everything

The theory of everything It is also a mirror, a reflection of reality, of that world in which we reward certain people for their work, but leave others aside for the same reason. On more than one occasion, alludes to the financial problems that Jane and Stephen had to face in their beginningssomething that, surely, we would never have thought of such a famous physicist.

The theory of everything shows us the origin, the provenance of this genius turned celebrity, reminding us that, unlike rock stars or elite athletes, many geniuses are not awarded, they do not achieve recognition until they reach an advanced age and, in many cases, having dedicated a life to research is not a guarantee of success. nor recognition.

The film reminds us of what is important, the values ​​that we must not lose, It reminds us that the vital thing is to have a reason, to maintain the fighting spirit despite adversity, it invites us to embrace our family, our friends, to embrace life… Because we never know when the end will come.

Stephen and Jane believed that the clock was against them, that Stephen’s life would end at any moment and, therefore, they chose to live against the clock, They chose to start a family as soon as possible, they chose to enjoy every moment, although the road was not easy at all. And it is true that both ended up separating, but we do not see the separation as something tragic, but as a gesture of love for the other.

Jane had sacrificed everything for Stephen, when they separated, it was Stephen who decided to take another path and, although the idea may seem crazy, selfish and irrational, the truth is that it is not. Jane had a second chance, a rebirth, without stopping loving Stephen, but embarking on a new path.

I have to applaud Redmayne’s work once again, because interpreting Hawking and capturing his gestures can, without that being the objective, lead to the laughable, to an artificial and forced level, however, nothing is further from reality; Redmayne achieves a moving, natural Hawking, without artifice and totally credible.

The theory of everything It is a great way to remember Stephen Hawking, but also to remind ourselves that no one escapes death, to rescue that human side that we seem to have lost, to recover laughter, that faithful companion that Hawking never lost; Life is endless adversities, obstacles, we are the ones who choose how we want to live it, how we want that path to be so that, in the end, it is worth it.

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