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DVD Description
In the Spring of 1914, with Europe on the brink of war, no one had heard of an obscure German physicist called Albert Einstein. A British astronomer, Arthur Eddington, realised that Einstein’s theories could unlock whole new ways of thinking about time and space. Despite the danger of being labelled traitors, the two men began a unique correspondence. An eclipse in Africa provided an opportunity to prove Einstein’s theories to the world. Eddington, an unlikely hero, set out on a journey that would change people’s perceptions of the universe forever.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: In the Spring of 1914, with Europe on the brink of war, no one had heard of an obscure German physicist called Albert Einstein. A British astronomer, Arthur Eddington, realised that Einstein's theories could unlock whole new ways of thinking about time and space. Despite the danger of being labelled traitors, the two men began a unique correspondence. An eclipse in Africa provided an opportunity to prove Einstein's theories to the world. Eddington, an unlikely hero, set out on a journey that would change people's perceptions of the universe forever. ...Einstein and Eddington
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I loved this film. It is beautiful and visually striking, from the opening scence set atop an African mountain, to the contrasting scenes set in Zurich, Berlin and Cambridge. Set admist the turmoil of the great war, a story is told, not just of the greatest scientific discovery of our time, but also of human loss, love, humanity and courage. I admire the writer and director for their ability to put so much into a fairly short film, and especially for setting Einstein's work into the appalling political context of this time so clearly. The film is pacey and engaging throughout. The acting from the whole cast is great. Andy Serkis is very believable as the rebellious, wild and unpredictable Einstein. Tennant demonstrates his versitility with the quietly heroic, if repressed, Eddington. His performance is highly engaging, and he fully portrays the scientist's love for his work. This film should please anyone who enjoys historical drama, is interested in science, or who just likes a good story well told.
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The academic and situational historical relationship between the inspired genius and the conscientious 'best measurer in England' was just waiting to be given this sort of treatment. Every sort of ingredient a writer of fiction could ask for was there to be taken and used.
Eddington has always been described as the first man in England to understand Einstein and this film shows his struggle to get his ideas taken seriously at a time when, during the First World War, German science was a dirty word. As a Quaker and a pacifist Eddington is shown as an objective and progressive scientist who serves only the truth and the advancement of science. This brings him up against the resistance of the Cambridge scientific community who are supporters of the war, and hostile to Einstein who was regarded as a German, since he was working at the University of Berlin (though he had renounced citizenship and regarded himself as belonging to no nation). In Berlin, heavily committed to the German war effort, they are developing poison gas which is soon used at Ypres with devastating effect.
Einstein for his part is being put under pressure to support the war and put his signature to a list of German scientists, but wants none of it and so his funding is cut off and he is banned from the University. In the film he gets the full romantic genius treatment and comes across as the Einstein legend would have us expect. Don't worry it's very convincing and the idiosyncrasies and anecdotes are based on facts. The arts too are not left out, as much is made of his love of music (Mozart and Schubert, not Beethoven or Wagner unfortunately). Serkis as ever is excellent.
But the most moving thing about this story is the way it shows how Eddington's interest in Einstein's work led him to carry out, against all the opposition, the experimental field work in astronomy that led to the verification of General Relativity. What will come as a surprise to most people is just how much the genius needed the professional and this film should go a long way to give Eddington the popular recognition he deserves. As Eddington, Tennant gives the best performance I have ever seen from him.
The re-creation of time and place as we go back and forth between Berlin and Cambridge is very well done.
Moving and important. Highly recommended.
If you're interested it deals sympathetically with Eddington's religious views and the place of, shall we say, metaphysics in science, but not so that you can't set it aside if you want to.
Eddington has always been described as the first man in England to understand Einstein and this film shows his struggle to get his ideas taken seriously at a time when, during the First World War, German science was a dirty word. As a Quaker and a pacifist Eddington is shown as an objective and progressive scientist who serves only the truth and the advancement of science. This brings him up against the resistance of the Cambridge scientific community who are supporters of the war, and hostile to Einstein who was regarded as a German, since he was working at the University of Berlin (though he had renounced citizenship and regarded himself as belonging to no nation). In Berlin, heavily committed to the German war effort, they are developing poison gas which is soon used at Ypres with devastating effect.
Einstein for his part is being put under pressure to support the war and put his signature to a list of German scientists, but wants none of it and so his funding is cut off and he is banned from the University. In the film he gets the full romantic genius treatment and comes across as the Einstein legend would have us expect. Don't worry it's very convincing and the idiosyncrasies and anecdotes are based on facts. The arts too are not left out, as much is made of his love of music (Mozart and Schubert, not Beethoven or Wagner unfortunately). Serkis as ever is excellent.
But the most moving thing about this story is the way it shows how Eddington's interest in Einstein's work led him to carry out, against all the opposition, the experimental field work in astronomy that led to the verification of General Relativity. What will come as a surprise to most people is just how much the genius needed the professional and this film should go a long way to give Eddington the popular recognition he deserves. As Eddington, Tennant gives the best performance I have ever seen from him.
The re-creation of time and place as we go back and forth between Berlin and Cambridge is very well done.
Moving and important. Highly recommended.
If you're interested it deals sympathetically with Eddington's religious views and the place of, shall we say, metaphysics in science, but not so that you can't set it aside if you want to.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I though this film was excellent. I was concerned before the screening about the quantity and quality of the science but they did a good job. There are numerous wonderful scenes of Einstein explaining bits of his work to his sons so children watching will also understand. They gave Eddington one of Einstein's famous demonstrations to use in explaining it to his sister and his friend.
You see how the work of both men was influenced by their families and their beliefs. Both stood up for what they thought was right when their countries were at war. The film showed the difficulties presented to each by the internal emotional conflict due to the war and the deaths it caused. Also both faced conflict with colleagues because of their pacifist views and these points were well illustrated in the film. I think the scenes with Eddington and a German family are particularly good both in acting and the film presentation.
You see how the work of both men was influenced by their families and their beliefs. Both stood up for what they thought was right when their countries were at war. The film showed the difficulties presented to each by the internal emotional conflict due to the war and the deaths it caused. Also both faced conflict with colleagues because of their pacifist views and these points were well illustrated in the film. I think the scenes with Eddington and a German family are particularly good both in acting and the film presentation.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Einstein & Eddington
I bought this because I am a huge David Tennant fan and was not disappointed. David is an amazing actor and he is so adept at playing any character. Read more
Published 1 month ago by E. Lombard
Entertaining and informative
Thoroughly enjoyed this. I didn't know much about the background to Einstein's work and had not heard of Eddington so found it very interesting, but also entertaining. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Victoria Howard
A film I will watch again and again to understand what I have missed
I enjoyed this film.
I am particularly interested in Albert Einstein having read one or two biographies of him. Read more
I am particularly interested in Albert Einstein having read one or two biographies of him. Read more
Published 10 months ago by K. A. Newton
Einstein and Eddington
A fantastic film. The DVD arrived very quickly allowing me to enjoy the film even sooner. It was well packaged and in beautiful condition
Published 12 months ago by Catherine Chamoun
Great for tv, not for learning
I'm an italian teacher of mathematics and physics in secondary school.
My question was if this movie could be used in classroom to make students understand something about... Read more
My question was if this movie could be used in classroom to make students understand something about... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Michele
A wonderfully told true story
This is a really wonderful film about two fascinating characters. If the story was complete fiction it would still be a good film but the fact that it's real is what makes it... Read more
Published 21 months ago by S. Lewis
Great film
this is a great film very well made.
David tennant and andy serkis did amazing acting
must have
David tennant and andy serkis did amazing acting
must have
Published 23 months ago by hatter
Einstein and Eddington
Einstein `s ability to see, in his mind's eye, that which was invisible to all other humans, has amazed me from the 7th grade on, and that was in 1949. Read more
Published on 13 May 2010 by Ron Hadge
Very Well Done
I adore David Tennant anyway, so he could sit there and just stare at the camera, and I'm cool with it!! LOL!! BUT! This movie was really very good. I live in the U.S. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2010 by V. Huntwork
This brings shivers your spine as it unfolds the spectacle of the...
This is fabulously well done. A kind of Chariots of Fire for science. Tennant is a much better Dr here than ever he was in Dr Who: Both he and Andy Serkis (Gollum) are perfectly... Read more
Published on 11 Aug 2009 by Timothy Bates
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