If you are looking for a story that delves into the work of physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) or the motor neuron disease that afflicted him, you won’t find it here. Based on the memoir of first wife Jane Hawking’s (Felicity Jones) Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, the film takes a candid approach when portraying the couple’s life together. The two met while studying at Cambridge in the 1960s. When Hawking was given only two years to live after his diagnosis, they quickly married and started a family. The film shows the slow progression of Hawking’s disease (hats off to Redmayne for his portrayal) and Jane’s continued support and acceptance. As time passes, the challenge becomes more than she imagined. The movie brings to light the difficulties of such a relationship—and forces the audience to re-evaluate what is expected of true love.
Should You See It? Yes. —K.M.
Viewed at Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema