Creation

A glimpse at the doting father, conflicted scientist, and still infamous author of On the Origin of Species

I was moved by this glimpse into the lives of Charles and Emma Darwin. It offers flashbacks to Darwin’s time on the Beagle and other explorations, but takes place mainly in the period following the death of his eldest daughter, Annie in 1851 to the publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859. The piece is shot beautifully, set in around the family’s home in Kent. Paul Bettany (Legion) plays the part of the ailing, doting father and conflicted scientist superbly, and Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind) shines as both loving wife and devout Christian opposed to the possible religious implications of publishing his work. Wherever one stands on the arguments of evolution and Christianity the piece is a moving look at the struggles the family faced while Darwin worked towards the publication of his theory.