CREATION
UK, 2009, 108 minutes, Colour.
Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, Jeremy Northam, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Jones, Jim Carter, Martha West, Bill Paterson.
Directed by Jon Amiel.
Creation is about Charles Darwin on the occasion of the bicentenary of his birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species.
The film does create any controversy about Evolution or Creationism. It is an elegantly made period drama, focusing more on Darwin's family life as a context for his studies and his writing. It is more personal than a film about science or religion – though it would have been a stronger film had these issues been included more than they are. While it has Thomas Huxley stating that Darwin had 'killed God' (and Huxley had an image of a very vengeful God), Emma Darwin being a devout woman and the Reverend Innes speaking of God moving in mysterious ways and not questioning him, it presupposes that there were difficulties in the Churches at the time about science and religion, especially evolution. There is no reference to Genesis in the screenplay.
Paul Bettany gives a fine reflective, rather introspective performance as Darwin. There are two glimpses of his voyage around the world on the Beagle when he was in his early 20s – one is a scene in Patagonia where Captain Fitzroy barters buttons and goods for three children and takes them to England, 'civilising' them with clothes and table manners, a picture of British assumptions about civilisation and superiority. Most of the film is set in the late 1850s at his home in Kent, his ill-health (psychosomatic?) and his seeing his loving daughter, Annie (Martha West), talking with him, criticising him, unable to accept the fact that she is dead.
The drama is not so much in whether he can write On the Origin of Species (and there are a number of sequences of him examining specimens and of writing) but, rather, in his relationship with his wife who feels alienated about how they responded to Annie's death as well as differing from him about God and evolution. Their scene of reconciliation and honesty and love after he is healed of his depression and preoccupations is very moving. Bettany is acting with his actual wife, Jennifer Connolly.
The re-creation of this small corner of Kent in Victorian England is beautifully done.
With recent discussions in the Church about the relationship between religion and science and Benedict XVI's and Vatican statements about evolution, Catholic audiences will find the film interesting, and an entertaining drama, insofar as it offers a portrait of Darwin and indications of his research and theories.
However, Creationists and those who interpret Scripture literally and fundamentalists, will be opposed to Darwin's work and may find the film too supportive of him and his theories.
1.A celebration of the centenary of Darwin’s birth, one hundred and fifty years of On the Origin of Species?
2.Based on the book by Darwin’s great-great-grandson? His perspective on Darwin? His ideas? As a person? Family?
3.The quality of the period setting, Kent, Malvern? The home, the woods? The flashbacks to the Beagle, Argentina, the Pacific Ocean? Costumes and décor? The lush score?
4.The 19th century, the Victorian era, society and its propriety, the role of the church and religion, faith, the clashes with science? The impact of On the Origin of Species in 1859?
5.Darwin himself, the issue of faith, loss of faith? The support of Hooker? Thomas Huxley, his anti-God stances, statements, Darwin killing God, Huxley’s image of God as a vengeful God? Interfering in the world?
6.The screenplay not highlighting the clash between science and religion? Letting it pervade the film but not exploring it? Hooker and Huxley and the scepticism? The Reverend Innes and his talk of God moving in mysterious ways, the mysteries of the universe and not questioning God? The differences between Charles Darwin and the religious viewpoints of Emma?
7.The introduction, the focusing on Darwin’s single idea – as one of the most important to have changed the world and mindsets? A valid comment?
8.The structure of the film: Darwin writing, the flashbacks, his imaginings of Annie, memories? The explanation of Darwin’s behaviour, his marriage with his cousin, his concern about passing on illness? His depression, marriage rift, therapy, healing, physical, psychological, healing of the soul? His recovering to write his book? His living on for years after this?
9.Darwin and his work, as a young man on the Beagle, going to Patagonia, observing Captain Fitzroy with the Patagonians, their being taken to England, their return and return to their ordinary state? His interest in science, the visit to the Galapagos Islands, five years on his voyage, observing, his life, his samples, laboratories, working with the specimens? The skeletons (and the assistance of Parslow)? The birds, the insects?
10.The visit from Hooker, Emma’s reaction to Hooker? His friendship and support of Darwin? Huxley, urging him to write and publish, Huxley’s views on God? The three going for a walk and Emma looking at them, her later warning to Hooker that this would kill Darwin? Darwin and his introspection, love of science, issues with God, going into himself? The meetings with Reverend Innes, the discussions, differing at the end?
11.The visions of Annie, telling her stories, the photo opportunity and her delight in hearing her father talk, her illness, going to Malvern, Jennifer the orangutan? Her death? Her different appearances to Darwin, encouraging him, arguing with him, threatening him? An anima figure to his psyche? His visiting her room, admitting her death – and her disappearance?
12.The picture of the other children, their relationship with their father, the strictness of their mother, the meals, Annie’s illness, their feeling that their father did not love them, the end and his coming to read a story, telling them stories? Their delight?
13.Parslow, assistant, helping with the work, the specimens, the building of the hydrotherapy and Darwin’s attempts to get physical healing through the water treatment?
14.The doctor, the therapy, the discussions about faith, arguments, the various treatments that Darwin underwent?
15.The visit to the room in Malvern, the healing experience?
16.Emma as a character, playing the piano, with her children, her response to Darwin’s return, her explanation of how she hated him, separated from Annie, from the children? The renewal of love, reading to the children? His giving her the manuscript, her reading it overnight, offering it to him to post? Her love for Darwin overcoming her religious attitudes?
17.The film screenplay and the various quotations from On the Origin of Species, the explanations? The role of God – and the film’s avoidance of creationist issues, not using the Genesis texts?
18.The background of the Beagle story, the natives going to England – and the superiority of Victorian England? Colonialism? The context for Darwin’s reflections, laboratory work over twenty years, the writing and publishing of the book? The changing of 19th century attitudes?
