Science Department

In Cinemas Now: Creation

October 22, 2009

 The freedom to speak of religion’s incompatibility with science is nowadays a given. Back in Charles Darwin’s day, things were a little trickier, and the publication of a book that explained mankind’s creation without recourse to God would earn you some stern looks over the dinner table.

Especially if the missus was a devout Unitarian. Charles and Emma Darwin (played by real-life couple Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly) have just such a dilemma.

 Creation plays on this difficulty in their loving relationship, as well as their attempts to come to terms with the death of their 10-year-old daughter Anne.

Bettany is as good as ever, despite side-whiskers that would shame a wildebeest, and Connelly manages to engage our sympathies well, considering she’s basically playing a roadblock to progress. Movies about ideas are a rare thing. This one is about the greatest idea of all, and deserves to be a great success.

Review: BBC Focus Magazine Issue 208 Oct’09

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