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
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Title: Iris (2001)
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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) | |
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Plot Summary
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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
Taglines:
Her greatest talent was for lifeParents Guide:
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
29 March 2002 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$5,500,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$23,144, 16 December 2001, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$1,292,119, 9 August 2015Company Credits
Production Co:
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),Fox Iris Productions,Intermedia Films See more »
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
This film also marks the second time that Judi Dench, and another actress playing the same part, have both been nominated for an Oscar. Previously, Dench won Best Supporting Actress 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). 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
Young Iris Murdoch: Yes, of course, there's something fishy about describing people's feelings. You try hard to be accurate, but as soon as you start to define such and such a feeling, language lets you down. It's really a machine for making falsehoods. When we really speak the truth, words are insufficient. Almost everything except things like "pass the gravy" is a lie of a sort. And that being the case, I shall shut up. Oh, and... pass the gravy.See more »
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"Iris" tells of British novelist Iris Murdoch and her husband as they struggle together with her Alzheimer's affliction. The couple is portrayed in youth by Winslet and Bonneville and in old age by Dench and Broadbent with all delivering sterling performances. The plaintive and wistful story is told through interleaving scenes of the older couple's struggle with moments from the younger couple's life. As far as it goes, the film is an excellent product. What it doesn't deliver, however, is a deep sense of Murdoch, her philosophies and complexities of thought thereby giving greater depth to the character and a sense of the significance of what she is losing. In short, the film dwells too much on the disease and too little on the woman. Recommended for more mature viewers (B+)