CINEMA: Creation

Charles Darwin may be revered in the UK as the father of the theory of evolution, but for many in America he is nothing more than spawn of the devil.

Unfortunately, this means Creation struggled to secure a distribution deal in the US; a great pity, for this shows us the human – and troubled – side of the man.

Paul Bettany plays Darwin as a measured scientist, willing to wait years, even decades, to perfect his theories through experimentation and observation before publishing them. Even when other scientists (including an excellent Toby Young as Thomas Huxley) urge him to publish, he holds back. However, his caution is also due to outside factors including his wife’s (Jennifer Connelly) religious beliefs, the disapproval of the local vicar (Jeremy Northam), and the untimely death of Darwin’s beloved daughter (Martha West).

As Darwin’s inner dialogue over whether he should publish or not becomes more tortured, it is the phantom memory of his daughter that increasingly influences his decision.

This lovingly put together production has a pace so leisurely some may lose patience with it (in much the same way other scientists start to lose patience with Darwin). It also veers away from the main thrust of the story, the publication of On The Origin Of Species, to concentrate on Darwin’s bereavement, which again, may frustrate those wanting a straight biopic. Yet, some passages are so beautiful (especially the opening sequence, two or three of the exchanges between Darwin and the ghost of his dead daughter, and a long scene where Darwin interacts with a young orangutan) you find yourself becoming totally immersed in Darwin’s world of delight and amazement at the wonders of creation around him.

The result is a film that is intelligent rather than dry, thoughtful rather than sensational, and rather charming in its period detail.