Creation
Creation is a 2009 British biographical drama film. Produced by Jeremy Thomas, the film was directed by Jon Amiel, and stars Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly as Charles and Emma Darwin (themselves married in Real Life). John Collee wrote the script based on Randal Keynes' biography of Darwin, titled Annie's Box.
The film is a partly biographical, partly fictionalised account of Charles Darwin's relationship with his eldest daughter, Annie (Martha West), as he struggles to write On the Origin of Species.
Tropes used in Creation include:
- Adorkable: Paul Bettany as the socially awkward Charles Darwin.
- Bookworm
- Born in the Wrong Century
- Epiphany Therapy
- Infant Immortality: Subverted. Twice. Causes Heroic BSOD for Darwin.
- Female Angel, Male Demon: Emma keeps her faith, whereas Charles loses his, and it is portrayed with hellish imagery during his breakdown.
- Mad Scientist: Sympathetic version.
- Parental Favoritism: Charles seems to be most connected to Annie.
- Sexless Marriage: After the death of Annie.
- Shown Their Work: (also a Freeze-Frame Bonus) Look closely at the contents of the trunk in Darwin's office. One of the papers is an actual page from one of the (many) notebooks he filled during his life.
- Spirited Young Lady: Annie is a younger version.
- Victorian Britain
- Victorian Novel Disease: Annie dies from it. Charles' own illness is shown to be very undignified.