The Theory of Everything

Back in 1991, when director Errol Morris transformed Stephan Hawking's A Brief History of Time into a documentary, his association with the award winning physicist hit an all time high. Here was a man, a man who survived his expected two year life expectancy since being diagnosed with the neuro-degenerative ALS disease and a man who advanced in science, despite his serious physical limitations. Here was a man who was determined and brave.

Decades later, Hawking is the subject of The Theory of Everything, a biopic film that reportedly brought him to tears. The film is based on his ex-wife Jane Hawking's memoir, Travelling To Infinity: My Life With Stephen. Jane, who supported Hawking and their three children through their 30 year marriage, tells the story of the difficult marriage and the complications that were all too easily looked over. The Theory of Everything explores these events that eventually lead to their divorce in 1995, and lightly examines on the theoretical physics that brought Hawking's theories of black holes and space-time continuum international acceptance. 

Beginning when Hawking was a young and able physics dreamer in 1963, Cambridge, the film progresses through Hawking's, who is played tremendously by Eddie Redmayne, physical decline, only after falling in love with Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones), a bright, strong young arts student. Her persistent desire and effort to fight the ALS illness with Hawking, although pushed away, ultimate in their long marriage and growing family. 

For me personally, this film was an inspiration, a thread of hope, and reminds me that behind every person, no matter how smart or caring or powerful they might be, is someone, a human - mortal, flawed and longing for love.

Just as Stephan Hawking put into words himself, "While there is life, there is hope." 

Michaela.