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Iris (I) (2001)

7.0
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Ratings: 7.0/10 from 11,550 users   Metascore: 76/100
Reviews: 134 user | 98 critic | 30 from Metacritic.com

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.

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(books), (screenplay), 1 more credit »
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Title: Iris (2001)

Iris (2001) on IMDb 7/10

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 12 wins & 22 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Eleanor Bron ...
Principal
Angela Morant ...
Hostess
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Janet Stone
Siobhan Hayes ...
Check-Out Girl
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Young Janet Stone
Joan Bakewell ...
BBC Presenter
Nancy Carroll ...
BBC PA
...
Dr. Gudgeon
Tom Mannion ...
Neurologist
Derek Hutchinson ...
Postman
...
Young Maurice (as Sam West)
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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. Written by kem

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Her greatest talent was for life


Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

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Country:

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Language:

Release Date:

18 January 2002 (UK)  »

Also Known As:

Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch  »

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

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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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". See more »

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. See more »

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.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The 85th Oscars (2013) See more »

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
See more »

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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.


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