THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN

Ireland, 2019, 122 minutes, Colour.
Sean Penn, Mel Gibson, Eddie Marson, Natalie Dormer, Jennifer Ehle, Steve Coogan, Stephen Dillane, Ioan Gruffud, Jeremy Irvine, Laurence Fox, Anthony Andrews, David O' Hara, Aiden Mc Ardle, Bosco Hogan.
Directed by Farhad Safinnia (as P.B.Shemran).

A film about writing a dictionary? In fact, there was a fine 2013 Japanese film, The Great Passage, set in the 1990s where a company wanted to create a dictionary for the 21st-century, the story of a man involved, a story of a search for words and meaning, proofreading, highly enjoyable – but not for those who are eager for adrenaline-pumping stories, even the adrenaline-pumping at the discovery of a new word!

The Professor and the Madman is also a story about compiling a dictionary, the work of Oxford University Press in the 1880s and beyond. Again, not so adrenaline-pumping, but a film for those who appreciate (and relish) words and their meanings, who value a human story. However, there is quite some adrenaline at times because of the story, not of the professor, but of the madman.

Commentators on the film note that there were disputes between the makers’ company and the producer/distributor, court cases, private settlements, but the makers disappointed at the changes made by the distributors and disclaiming the film, expressing their disappointment. A number of the critics judged it accordingly, many quite dismissingly.

However, many of the public who have seen the film have been most impressed, many of the bloggers on the IMDb judging the film as very praiseworthy. This review concurs with them!

And who is the Professor? He is a Scotsman, James Murray, not academically qualified but a man with an innate gift for languages who is possessed with the goal of compiling the dictionary. He is accepted but treated by many of the dons in their snobbishly dismissive way. He gets to work. He has a number of diligent assistants, very demanding that they trace the meanings of words over the centuries, check on how they were used, quotations, indicating changes… (This is not quite the adrenaline-pumping part.)

The madman of the title is an American doctor, William Minor, active in the Civil War, having to brand a soldier and this experience haunting him (and shown in flashbacks several times), his imagining the soldier pursuing him, even to England, where, in a street, he obsessively shoots an innocent man mistaking him for the soldier. The man leaves a widow and many children.

The casting for this film is very strong. Mel Gibson, bearded, with a Braveheart accent, reminds us of how strong an actor he can be. He brings the Professor to intense life. But the madman is expertly and movingly played by Sean Penn, gaunt, sometimes emaciated, insane, persecuted, ultimately diagnosed as schizophrenic, treated benignly in Broadmoor institution, but also subject to bizarre 19th-century medical tests.

And the madman and the dictionary? The Doctor is a lover of words and the powers that be enable him to contribute to the dictionary. In fact, he contributed over 10,000 words during his time in the institution.

While there are the episodes of dictionary, there is a fine story of reconciliation, forgiveness, love, as the doctor sends his pension for the support of the widow and her children, she initially sending it back, but her visiting, getting to know the Doctor, appreciating him and giving him support. She is played by Natalie Dormer.

There is a supporting cast of fine British character actors including Steve Coogan, Stephen Dillane, Anthony Andrews, Ioan Gruffud, Laurence Fox and, especially Eddie Marson as the sympathetic prison guard. Jennifer Ehle plays the professor’s long-suffering but devoted wife.

The film is not intended as popular entertainment. Rather it is a project that has fascinated Mel Gibson for many years and he has given his writer of his Apocalypto, Farhad Safinia, the opportunity to direct (but, with the controversy, using an alias, P.B.Shemran).

Not knowing of the disputes until after seeing the film, this reviewer found it an impressive piece, re-creating its period, fine acting, stimulating drama.

1. A true story? The final information about the characters? The photos?

2. The title, provocative? Focus on the two characters?

3. London, the 1870s, 1880s? Oxford and the academic world? The room for research for the dictionary? The gardens? Homes? Broadmoor, the institution, rooms, cells, yards, rooms for experimentation? The musical score?

4. The flashbacks to the Civil War, atmosphere?

5. The contrast with the London, the doctor in the streets, his mad pursuit, the shooting of the innocent man? The encounter with his wife? The later dreams?

6. The story of the Dictionary, Oxford University Press, the project, the academics and their discussion, James and his presence, the continued support of Coogan? His not being an academic, yet his vast knowledge and knowledge and experience, languages? The agreement? Setting up the room, the various assistants, the hard work, the files, the references, quotations?

7. The nature of the dictionary, the number of words examined, their origins, development, changes, quotations, the need for references to prove the developments? The particular difficulties about different words? The sense of achievement?

8. James, his relationship with his wife and family, her being in the background, her support, the dismay at Dr Minors criminal record? Discussions about forgiveness?

9. Dr Minor, his fears, being haunted, the flashbacks, the soldier with the scar and brand, the murder, in the court, the judge, the prosecutors, the presence of the dead man’s wife? The hostility of the crowds? Sentence to the institution? The later diagnosis of schizophrenia?

10. The Institute, the exteriors, the yard, the cells, the treatment rooms, the number of guards, Dr Dillane and his presence, the running of the institution, the experiments, the therapy?

11. Sean Penn as doctor Minor, the story, the audience seeing him, being haunted, his fears, admitting his guilt, his gaunt appearance, the doctor and the treatment, the guard and his sending the money to the widow? His love of books, the collection, his being allowed to work on the dictionary, the extent of his research?

12. The widow, her dismay, in the court, resentment, the poverty for the children, her being on the street and exploited? Dr Minus and his pension, her refusal? The change of mind, her visit, accepting the money, the benefit for her children? Are getting to know the doctor, his improvement, the gift of books, the building up of forgiveness, some love, his teaching her to read? The impact of the experience, love for her husband, change of heart for the doctor?

13. James and is going to visit Dr Minor, the friendship, the collaboration, the discussion with the doctors?

14. The sympathetic guard, taking the money to the widow, her visits, friendship, his support of Dr Minor?

15. The achievement of research on 10,000 words?

16. The continued treatment of Dr Minor, his condition, the experiments, the vomiting and the photos? The reaction of the sympathetic guard? The role of the doctor, becoming more arrogant?

17. James, his objections, confrontations?

18. The academics at Oxford, some despising James, wanting him dropped from the dictionary work? They’re plotting? The achievement of James, Jowett and his diplomacy?

19. The final information, James knighted, his achievement?

20. The story of Dr Minor, deported to the United States, schizophrenia, his life and death?

21. Audience interest in the plot, the characters, the humanity, the strong performances?