Einstein: Chapter One

Genius is the first scripted drama from National Geographic. It is also from the makers of the Oscar winning A Beautiful Mind.

The first episode is directed by Ron Howard whose opening shot is set in Berlin 1922. A Jewish businessman is shot and his car bombed, we then see a Jewish newspaper article in flames which leads to the next cut of the same Jewish newspaper article with Albert Einstein (Geoffrey Rush) copulating with his assistant Betty (Charity Wakefield.)

A drama about the renowned physicist is split into several time- lines. The older Einstein is played by Rush, celebrated and also reviled for his theories and religion. His more earthier wife, Elsa (Emily Watson) warns him of the rising tide of antisemitism in Germany. His lecture room is filled to brim and Howard uses further visual trickery to demonstrate his embryonic theories of time and relativity.

We also see the younger Albert in Munich 1894 played by Johnny Flynn. A brash know it all when it comes to physics and maths but not so about other subjects. His tutors despair of his insolence and his father about getting into trouble at college. Young Albert is in danger of not getting a degree and ends up studying in Switzerland where his ideas at least do not lead to threats of expulsion and also some flirtatious behaviour.

The film has good production values and lots of British actors doing 'ze German accents.' The script has its share of clunkiness and stereotypical characters. Albert's father is stern and does not quiet understand him. His mother is loving and cares more for him than his father.

A bravura performance from Rush as the older Albert but I am not sure I wish to spend ten episodes (with a second series already announced) learning about the life of Albert Einstein and see Rush being randy all the time.