True story of the lifelong romance between novelist Iris Murdoch and her husband John Bayley, from their student days through her battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Director:
Richard Eyre
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Title: Iris (2001)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Kate Winslet | ... | Young Iris Murdoch | |
| Hugh Bonneville | ... | Young John Bayley | |
| Judi Dench | ... | Iris Murdoch | |
| Jim Broadbent | ... | John Bayley | |
| Eleanor Bron | ... | Principal | |
| Angela Morant | ... | Hostess | |
| Penelope Wilton | ... | Janet Stone | |
| Siobhan Hayes | ... | Check-Out Girl | |
| Juliet Aubrey | ... | Young Janet Stone | |
 |
Joan Bakewell | ... | BBC Presenter |
| Nancy Carroll | ... | BBC PA | |
| Kris Marshall | ... | Dr. Gudgeon | |
|
|
Tom Mannion | ... | Neurologist |
| Derek Hutchinson | ... | Postman | |
| Samuel West | ... | Young Maurice (as Sam West) | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
This movie is based on the life of revered British writer and philosopher Iris Murdoch Dame Judi Dench), is a story of unlikely yet enduring love. As a young academic, teaching philosophy at Oxford, Murdoch (Kate Winslet) meets and eventually falls in love with fellow professor John Bayley (Hugh Bonneville), a man whose awkwardness seems in stark opposition to the spirited self-confidence of his future wife. The story unfolds as snippets of time, seen through older Bayley's (Jim Broadbent's) eyes. He recalls their first encounter over forty years ago, activities they enjoyed doing together, and Iris' charismatic and individualistic personality. These images portray Murdoch as a vibrant young woman with great intellect and are contrasted with the novelist's later life, after the effects of Alzheimer's disease have ravaged her. Murdoch's great mind deteriorates until she is reduced to a mere vestige of her former self, unable to perform simple tasks and completely reliant on her at ... Written by kem
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Her greatest talent was for lifeParents Guide:
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Music: Traditional tune: Caisleán U, Néill
Lyrics by Samuel Ferguson (about 1850)
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Goofs
When Iris and John are traveling to the nursing home, they are seen crossing a bridge. This bridge is Magdalene Bridge and leads to East Oxford, yet The Vale House, where Iris Murdoch spent the final years of her life, was (and still is) in South Oxford. See more »Quotes
Iris Murdoch: Every human soul has seen, perhaps before their birth, pure forms such as justice, temperance, beauty and all the great moral qualities which we hold in honour. We are moved towards what is good by the faint memory of these forms, simple and calm and blessed, which we saw once in a pure, clear light, being pure ourselves.See more »
Soundtracks
The Lark in the Clear AirMusic: Traditional tune: Caisleán U, Néill
Lyrics by Samuel Ferguson (about 1850)
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
29 March 2002 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Iris: A Memoir of Iris Murdoch See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$5,500,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$23,144, 16 December 2001Gross USA:
$5,594,617Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$16,153,953Company Credits
Production Co:
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Fox Iris Productions, Intermedia Films See more »
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Technical Specs
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Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1Contribute to This Page
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This film, inspired by John Bayley's memoir in tribute of his late wife, the novelist Iris Murdoch, gives us some insight into the final years of Murdoch as she struggled with the effects of Alzheimer's Disease, and shows us how her personality developed from the quirky, intelligent student of her young days into the self-assured, measured writer at her peak.
Iris is played when young by Kate Winslet, whose portrayal veers from playful to irritating. As she grows older she morphs into the wonderful Judi Dench, giving a quite exceptional performance as the mature Murdoch. Playing John Bayley are two actors who uncannily resemble each other - Hugh Bonneville and Jim Broadbent. Broadbent was to win awards for his performance, and rightly so, although Bonneville was no less touching.
In a well-balanced supporting cast we have Penelope Wilton, Sam and Timothy West, Eleanor Bron, and Juliet Aubrey, giving assured performances.
Is 'Iris' truly a movie about a writer, and the business of writing and creativity? Well, no, as her writing is not central to the feel of the piece (although it does touch on her gift for words, and the tragic loss of the ability to process and work with them). It is something of a downbeat film, which will leave the more sensitive amongst you with damp eyes, but essentially it is an exceptional piece of work about the destructive power of dementia and Alzheimer's.