Based on the worldwide best-selling novel by Simon Winchester, and starring Mel Gibson and Sean Penn, this dramatic biopic is an extraordinary true tale of madness, genius, and obsession about two remarkable men who created history with the writing of the Oxford English Dictionary.
The compilation of the Oxford English Dictionary began in 1857 and was one of the most ambitious, and revolutionary projects ever undertaken. Professor James Murray (Gibson) took on the daunting challenge of creating the most comprehensive dictionary ever developed, but predicted that it would take him and his team over a century to compile all known definitions. However, by “crowd sourcing” the work and enlisting definitions from people all over the world, the dictionary could be accomplished in mere decades. As definitions were collected, the overseeing committee, led by Professor Murray, discovered that an American Civil War veteran, Dr. W.C. Minor (Penn), had submitted more than ten thousand words. But when the committee insisted on honouring him, a shocking truth came to light that no one could have ever predicted.
Also starring Natalie Dormer and Steve Coogan, The Professor and the Madman is a beautifully shot, sensationally acted tale.
Tuesday 29th October
124 min
M
Film Festival
