The Man Who Knew Infinity
dir. Matt Brown · 2016
Plot
In the 1910s, Srinivasa Ramanujan is a man of boundless intelligence that even the abject poverty of his home in Madras, India, cannot crush. Eventually, his stellar intelligence in mathematics and his boundless confidence in both attract the attention of the noted British mathematics professor, G.H. Hardy, who invites him to further develop his computations at Trinity College at Cambridge. Forced to leave his young wife, Janaki, behind, Ramanujan finds himself in a land where both his largely intuitive mathematical theories and his cultural values run headlong into both the stringent academic requirements of his school and mentor and the prejudiced realities of a Britain heading into World War One. Facing this with a family back home determined to keep him from his wife and his own declining health, Ramanujan joins with Hardy in a mutual struggle that would define Ramanujan as one of India's greatest modern scholars who broke more than one barrier in his worlds.
Why watch
"The Man Who Knew Infinity" is a poignant exploration of the life of mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan, whose journey from India to Cambridge reveals the beauty and struggle of cultural dislocation. This uplifting biopic invites viewers to reflect on the power of intellect and love against the backdrop of societal prejudice and personal sacrifice.
Talking points
- the nature of genius
- cultural identity and belonging
- the impact of mentorship
- the intersection of art and science