TESLA

US, 2020, 102 minutes, Colour.

Ethan Hawke, Eve Hewson, Josh Hamilton, Kyle MacLachlan, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jim Gaffigan, Lois Smith.

 Directed by Michael Almereyda.

With 21^st-century developments in electric cars, the name of Nikolai Tesla has become better known. However, the migrant from the Balkans to the United States in the 19^th century, he had some significant roles in development of inventions, especially concerning electricity and his theories of AC/DC (with which Thomas Edison disagreed).

Over the decades, there have been quite a number of films about Tesla and his work. In more recent times there was The Current Wars, with Nicholas Holt playing Tesla (and Benedict Cumberbatch as Edison and Michael Shannon as Westinghouse). In this film, Edison and is played by Kyle MacLachlan and Westinghouse by Jim Gaffigan.

The film was written and directed by Michael Alma Raider, something of an exotic Dir in his choice of subjects and his visual style – versions of Shakespeare, Hamlet and Cymbeline, science fiction/fantasy creations, Experimenter, Marjorie Prime. It is the same with this interpretation of Tesla, as pictured biography but rather a perspective portrait, a genius, eccentric, clashing with Edison, electric theory, issues of finance – and is outliving his colleagues, dying at 87.

Ethan Hawke is Tesla, car MacLachlan Edison, acknowledging Edison’s genius but not making him likeable.

Financial entrepreneur JP Morgan also features, and his daughter And, if Hewson, her character introducing something exotic the beginning of the film, her being in our contemporary world and advising audiences to Google the name of Tesla and see the few references, especially in comparison with those for Edison.

Not for those who would want a clear biography and portrait of Tesla, but for those who are fascinated by interpretations.

1. Audience knowledge of Nikolai Tesla? His scientific background? Innovations? Coming from Europe? Work in the US, with Edison, Westinghouse, JP Morgan? AC/DC, the 1893 World’s Fair lighting? His career, relationships, isolation, eccentricities?
2. The stylised nature of this film, historical recreations, Ann Morgan and her voice-over, computer and the modern age? Comments about Google entries? Her going back, explanations?
3. The visual style of the film, realistic, surrealistic, especially the use of colours?
4. The introduction to Tesla, as played by Ethan Hawke? The explanation of his background, his being in the US, his theories, electricity, his experience with the cat and electric reaction? Working with Edison, in the factory, the other workers, the clash with Edison, Edison dominating, the death of his wife, his remarriage, his inventions, his patents?
5. Tesla and his isolation, money issues, his working on motors?
6. The scientific background, the financial background, the role of Westinghouse and his inventions and patents? Rivalries with Edison? JP Morgan, finance, wealth, interest in Tesla’s work, not liking him, the issue of AC/DC?
7. The issue of the lighting for the World’s Fair of 1893? The role of Edison, the role of Tesla, interest in theories of electric current?
8. Sziget, work, inventive, friend of Tesla, helping him, then leaving and working on his own?
9. The development of electricity and its uses in the 19^th century, electric light, the reference to the first execution by electrocution?
10. Tesla and the years, reconciliations with Edison, the relationship with Ann Morgan, her finally breaking?
11. The episode with Sarah Bernhardt, Tesla’s attraction, Edison’s support, the tour of the US?
12. The personality and role of la Grande Dame?.
13. Morgan, finance, the mines, Tesla becoming more and more on the outer? Theories, signals from Mars…?
14. Part biography of Tesla – more of a perspective portrait?