Iris (I) (2001)

True story of the lifelong romance between novelist Iris Murdoch and her husband John Bayley, from their student days through her battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Director:

Richard Eyre

Writers:

John Bayley (books), Richard Eyre (screenplay),

Stars:

Kate Winslet, Hugh Bonneville, Judi Dench

Won 1 Oscar. Another 12 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kate Winslet	...	Young Iris Murdoch
Hugh Bonneville	...	Young John Bayley
Judi Dench	...	Iris Murdoch
Jim Broadbent	...	John Bayley
Eleanor Bron	...	Principal
Angela Morant	...	Hostess
Penelope Wilton	...	Janet Stone
Siobhan Hayes	...	Check-Out Girl
Juliet Aubrey	...	Young Janet Stone
Joan Bakewell	...	BBC Presenter
Nancy Carroll	...	BBC PA
Kris Marshall	...	Dr. Gudgeon
Tom Mannion	...	Neurologist
Derek Hutchinson	...	Postman
Samuel West	...	Young Maurice (as Sam West)

Storyline

Iris, based on the life of revered British writer and philosopher Iris Murdoch, is a story of unlikely yet enduring love. As a young academic, teaching philosophy at Oxford, Murdoch meets and eventually falls in love with fellow professor John Bayley, a man whose awkwardness seems in stark opposition to the spirited self-confidence of his future wife. The story unfolds as snippets of time, seen through Bayley's eyes. He recalls their first encounter over 40 years ago, activities they enjoyed doing together, and Iris' charismatic and individualistic personality. These images portray Murdoch as a vibrant young woman with great intellect and are contrasted with the novelist's later life, after the effects of Alzheimer's disease have ravaged her. Murdoch's great mind deteriorates until she is reduced to a mere vestige of her former self, unable to perform simple tasks and completely reliant on her at times frustrated yet devoted husband.

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Plot Keywords:

alzheimer's disease | novelist | love | friend | philosopher | 

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Taglines:

Her greatest talent was for life

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch

Filming Locations:

Magpie Lane, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$5,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£378,749 (UK) (18 January 2002)

Gross:

$5,580,479 (USA) (10 May 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Fox Iris Productions, Intermedia Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

2002 Academy Awards host Whoopi Goldberg humorously referred during the ceremony that Iris "[was] a movie that even Ingmar Bergman found depressing".

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Goofs

When Iris and John go to visit Maurice Charlton, a reflection of the camera lighting is seen on the inside of the front door.

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Quotes

Iris Murdoch: Reading and writing and the preservation of language and its forms and the kind of eloquence and the kind of beauty which the language is capable of is terribly important to the human beings because this is connected to thought.

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Connections

Referenced in The 85th Oscars (2013)

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Soundtracks

"Que reste-t-il de nos amours?"
Written and Performed by Charles Trenet
Composed by Trénet / Chauliac
Published by Salabert Phonographic (c) Luxy Music SA
(c) Universal Music Group Publishing (ASCAP)
By kind permission of Herrison Vert SA

User Reviews

Shattering

This episodic story of Iris Murdoch, best selling novelist, and her husband John Bayley, is not for the faint-hearted. There are no illusions here, and those that seem to exist are shattered by grim reality.

The film pulls no punches, showing Iris as a self-absorbed, stream-of-consciousness woman who becomes ill with Alzheimer's disease. Her husband, in sickness and in health, seems to always be a step behind her. However, he is enthralled with her - totally devoted and ultimately alone.

Yet, this portrait is beautiful and episodic, filled with symbolism, wonderful flashbacks, and the threads of a relationship built and undone. The four leads are just wonderful, with Jim Broadbent deservedly receiving an Oscar for his performance. Superb cinematography, editing, and direction support the actors and the great script.

Highly recommended. I give it 9 out of 10.