HAWKING

UK, 2004, 90 minutes, Colour.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Brandon, Lisa Dillon, Phoebe Nicholls, Adam Godley, Peter Firth.
Directed by Philip Martin.

Hawking is an interesting insight into Stephen Hawking. It limits itself to Hawking’s early years, his studies, his insights, his determination, especially when his motor neuron disease is diagnosed.
Errol Morris made a documentary about Hawking, A Brief History of Time. There have been many other documentaries and a forthcoming feature film about his life and career.

Benedict Cumberbatch gives a striking performance as the young Hawking – an indication that in succeeding years Cumberbatch would become a significant screen and television presence. Phoebe Nicholls and Adam Godley are his parents. Lisa Dillon portrays Jane, Hawking’s first wife of many decades. Peter Firth is Fred Hoyle, with whom Hawking was in conflict about the Big Bang.

The film has a dramatic device where two Nobel Science Prize winners are being interviewed, intercut with Hawking’s story, especially about the energy which resulted from the Big Bang.

The film requires audience attention, especially in its presentation of scientific and philosophical ideas.

1. Hawking’s reputation? Science, the media? His motor-neuron disease? His long life?

2. The era of the 1960s, the early 60s? Hawking at 21, his family, his life and studies, meeting with Jane, his birthday celebration, his collapse, his illness, his father wanting him to have a task before he died?

3. The UK, Cambridge, the University, the Royal Society, we creation of the period? The musical score – and Wagner?

4. The title, the focus on Hawking? Benedict Cumberbatch and his impersonation, performance? Appearance, manner, his drive and achievement?

5. The portrait of Hawking, his love of science, talk about science, his studies, preparation for his thesis, his topic, his writing? His relationship with his parents, their love and care? Jane, the invitation to the party, looking at the stars? And not liking Wagner? His collapse, hospital, the tests, the doctors and their opinions? Motor-neuron disease? Progressing more rapidly in the young? His father and his being a doctor? The degeneration? Hawking and his watching Fred Hoyle on television, issues of the universe, the continuity of the universe? His discussion with his friends, the Professor, his getting the task and the supervision? Study, formulas on the blackboard? Reading Hoyle’s paper? At the Royal Society? His contradicting Hoyle? his meeting Roger Penrose, their discussions, sharing, on the train, the woman and the reversing of time, the chalk on the platform? Leading to the awareness of an explosion, the Big Bang theory? His thesis, his supervisor commenting on it, an interpretation of beauty on Einstein’s theories? His physical degeneration, collapse at the theatre, Jane and her support, his proposal? Her having time to think? The taxi at Cambridge, his being inarticulate, her intervention? And demanding a room with access at Cambridge? His prospects?

6. The final information on each of the scientists? The Nobel Prize winners of 1978 and the ‘hiss’ from the Big Bang? Hoyle, Roger Penrose, Hawking?

7. The television interview with the two Americans, recurring throughout the film? The characters, history, Jews in Germany, the death trains, the escape to England, to America, getting a life, a hard life but success? The collaboration of the two? Playing the recorder? Answering the questions of the interviewers? Playing the sound – the remnant of the energy of the Big Bang?

8. Fred Hoyle, a pioneer, his papers, his assistant, Hawking reading the paper, his reaction at the Royal Society? The later encounters with Hoyle?

9. The professor, his wife and family, Hawking’s father and his plea, a task, writing the thesis, the supervision, the discussion, the professor’s response and admiration?

10. Roger Penrose, talking with children, his enthusiasm, Hawking hearing him, sharing ideas, on the railway platform? Hoyle asking where the fossil of the Big Bang was? The American scientists providing the answer?

11. Hawking’s personal life, his relations with his parents, their care, with the doctors and their diagnoses, with Jane, her love and support? 25 years with Jane and then his divorce and re-marriage?

12. The fact that Hawking lived a long life?