Iris (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:

Judi Dench, Jim Broadbent, Kate Winslet

Won 1 Oscar. Another 13 wins & 31 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

This movie is based on the life of revered British writer and philosopher Iris Murdoch Dame Judi Dench), is a story of unlikely yet enduring love. As a young academic, teaching philosophy at Oxford, Murdoch (Kate Winslet) meets and eventually falls in love with fellow professor John Bayley (Hugh Bonneville), 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 older Bayley's (Jim Broadbent's) eyes. He recalls their first encounter over forty 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 ...

---

Plot Keywords:

alzheimer's disease | writer | novelist | love | marriage | 

---

Taglines:

Her greatest talent was for life

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 2002 (USA)

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 USA:

$23,144, 16 December 2001

Gross USA:

$5,594,617

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,153,953

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

This movie also marks the second time that Dame Judi Dench, and another actress playing the same part, have been nominated for an Oscar. Previously, Dench won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for playing Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love (1998), the same year that Cate Blanchett was nominated for playing the part in Elizabeth (1998).

---

Goofs

When Iris and John are traveling to the nursing home, they are seen crossing a bridge. This bridge is Magdalene Bridge and leads to East Oxford, yet The Vale House, where Iris Murdoch spent the final years of her life, was (and still is) in South Oxford.

---

Quotes

Iris Murdoch: [pep-talking herself] Keep working, keep talking, keep the words coming.
John Bayley: Keep at it.
Iris Murdoch: I should feel like a deprived animal if I can't write. I'm like a starved dog.
John Bayley: No, keep at it. I'll keep you at it.
[turns on the desk lamp]
Iris Murdoch: I feel... as if I'm sailing into darkness.

---

Connections

Featured in The EE British Academy Film Awards (2015)

---

Soundtracks

The Hokie Cokie
Words & Music by Jimmy Kennedy

User Reviews

A Life in Love

This film succeeds where the overrated "A Beautiful Mind" fell short. It puts its subject's life into perspective and gives a sense of her worldview and, needs, and desires--as opposed to just focusing on the illness. I think it is also more effective in its use of different actors to portray the main characters at different ages, rather than using distracting age makeup, like in ABM. I came away from this with a profound admiration for Iris Murdock, whereas I felt like I hardly got to know John Nash at all.

But enough with the comparisons. This film stands well on its own as a tribute to the companionship shared by Iris and her husband John Bayley throughout their long, complex, relationship. Broadbent deserved that Academy Award, although I would say he plays more of a lead character than supporting. Seeing Iris through Bayley's loving eyes is what makes the film an enriching experience. He is the one who must adapt to her unconventional lifestyle, and their journey together is a rewarding one.

One person who commented stated that this was "another disease movie." Funny how you never hear a complaints about "another gangster movie" or "another romantic comedy" or "another suspense thriller." SO WHAT? First of all, it is not a disease movie, it is at its heart a romance, and a "meaning of life" film, much moreso than a film about Alzheimer's disease. Secondly, the disease is the device used to illustrate their level of understanding and commitment to each other. And finally, I cannot imagine telling Murdock's story WITHOUT giving the disease its proper weight in the course of the film.

The scenes when the characters are younger are blended seamlessly with the latter day scenes. Kate Winslet and Hugh Bonneville (uncannily resembling a young Broadbent) are very true to their older counterparts' personalities, and add yet another dimension to film. All in all, this is a production of which director Richard Eyre and cast (and Bayley, who wrote the book on which the film is based) should be extremely proud. It should have been seen by more people in 2001. Grade: A