This movie employs the device of watching the ageing Nikola Tesla and a young woman reporter in the Hotel New Yorker, where he is being interviewed. He is near the end of his life, and recounts his life story to her, interspersed with flashbacks to his life's work, both his achievements and disappointments. I had the impression that I was eavesdropping on the interview, while U.S. or foreign agents are also shown to be following the conversation with some form of listening device. This is the early 1940s, and Germans already had a form of magnetic tape recording.
I watched this movie right after seeing a Yugoslavian version of his biopic called "Tajna Nikole Tesle (1980)," starring Orson Welles as J.P. Morgan. Although that earlier portrayal went through his life story chronologically, and Welles was superb in his role, that biopic was more like a Hollywood-style movie. I am sure liberties were taken with the events, to make it more entertaining.
The Ukrainian version that I am reviewing here came across more as a documentary, with Tesla as the narrator. I felt I acquired a better understanding of Tesla's work and ingenuity. This film actually stuck to the facts and helped explain Tesla's motives, as well as his disapproval of some potential military uses for his technology. Using well-designed graphics, the film also helps the viewer appreciate the scope of his designs and inventiveness. The scenes portraying Tesla's past experiences also had excellent cinematography.
This movie is time well spent, particularly if you are interested in learning more about Tesla's genius. He even pioneered electric motors to drive cars. He certainly had a vision for harnessing the power of electricity for the good of humanity.
I watched this movie right after seeing a Yugoslavian version of his biopic called "Tajna Nikole Tesle (1980)," starring Orson Welles as J.P. Morgan. Although that earlier portrayal went through his life story chronologically, and Welles was superb in his role, that biopic was more like a Hollywood-style movie. I am sure liberties were taken with the events, to make it more entertaining.
The Ukrainian version that I am reviewing here came across more as a documentary, with Tesla as the narrator. I felt I acquired a better understanding of Tesla's work and ingenuity. This film actually stuck to the facts and helped explain Tesla's motives, as well as his disapproval of some potential military uses for his technology. Using well-designed graphics, the film also helps the viewer appreciate the scope of his designs and inventiveness. The scenes portraying Tesla's past experiences also had excellent cinematography.
This movie is time well spent, particularly if you are interested in learning more about Tesla's genius. He even pioneered electric motors to drive cars. He certainly had a vision for harnessing the power of electricity for the good of humanity.
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