by Paul Bates
And yet, there is a percentage of the Earth’s population (according to the article by Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, back in the 2010s that number was estimated at 80,000 people) who would argue. They believe that math is the quintessence of beauty and art. They would agree with:
- Stefan Banach who claimed that ‘Mathematics is the most beautiful and most powerful creation of the human spirit’;
- or with Sofia Kovalevskaya who believed that ‘It is impossible to be a mathematician without being a poet in soul’.
Mathematicians do possess a unique mindset and a distinctive vision of the world. They often get into the spotlight of writers and film directors, as they truly deserve their stories to be told.
We have collected 5 movies about mathematicians, very different in genre and plots (from a heist drama to a neo-noir psychological thriller), that can find their places in the list next to such hits as Mind Games, Good Will Hunting, The Theory of Everything, and The Imitation Game.
So, here we go.
X + Y
X + Y is a 2014 British drama released under the title of ‘A Brilliant Young Mind’ in the USA and directed by Morgan Mathews.
It is a story about a withdrawn whizz-kid Nathan who has no problem understanding numbers as opposed to reading humans and navigating the world of social interactions. The teenager gains self-confidence, makes new friends, and faces the most unknown thing of all — love — for the first time after he joins a team of mathematicians to represent the UK at the International Math Olympiad.
The movie is based on Daniel Lightwing’s biography. He is a British mathematician and backend developer with Asperger’s syndrome from Chesterfield. So, the story is as real for cinema as possible.
X + Y is quality storytelling about a real-world genius mathematician, some of the most significant events in his life, and love, first and foremost. If you like the components of this formula, you should definitely go take a look.
21
21 is an American 2008 heist drama directed by Robert Luketic.
Card games are a combination of math, acting skills, and cold-blooded resilience. A gambler is a special kind of person.
A group of MIT students decide to try the role out. They are aiming at pulling off the hustle of the century and bringing down the biggest casino in Vegas. While the game of Blackjack is taking over them, their own game amazes the audience with virtuosity.
The movie is based on the book ‘Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, 2002’ by Ben Mezrich. The book, in turn, is based on a real story: for years, the writer had been collecting information about a group of mathematicians from MIT who had been using an advanced system of card counting. He even met some of the team members and the team leader himself, he interviewed casino security specialists and many other characters involved in the actual gambling hustle.
The real story began back in 1994 when Kevin (Ben in the movie) — a brilliant MIT student — flew to Atlantic City to watch Holyfield’s boxing matches. That weekend showed him how math helped his friends to win several thousands of dollars at the casino within just a couple of hours. Such a demonstration was enough to drag the protagonist into the world of Blackjack. From 1994 to 1998, the group of talented MIT students made several millions of dollars in Vegas. That is both the truth and the basis for the movie 21.
Don’t you want to see mathematicians in such swooping, bad-ass roles?
The Professor’s Beloved Equation
Hakase no aishita sûshiki (The professor’s beloved equation) is a 2006 Japanese family drama directed by Takashi Koizumi.
The movie will tell a story of a warm-hearted professor who suffers from a unique kind of amnesia (the result of a car accident that happened 10 years ago). The man’s memory can handle no more than 80 minutes: he wouldn’t remember any earlier events.
One day the professor hires a housekeeper and soon meets her 10-year-old son. Spending time with the scientist, they get fascinated with numbers and learn to see the beauty of math. Little by little, they explore the world of equations and formulas, led by the professor’s love of math, his warmth, and scientific purity. Mathematics teaches them a lot about life, love, and the joy of being alive.
Pi
Pi is an American 1997 neo-noir psychological drama and thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Max Cohen is a gifted mathematician who has been trying to decipher a universal numerical code for understanding changes in stock prices.
The closer he gets to the solution, the darker the world around him turns. Powerful Wall Street analysts and violent religious fanatics follow the man, and each group wants a key to the main secret of the Universe from him. Max has to fight both of these forces and, on top of that, uncertainties of his genius mind all along the way.
In addition to the mesmerising storyline, the movie holds some secrets of its own. The film budget was only $60,000 and consisted mostly of $100 contributions made by Darren Aronofsky’s family members and friends. The movie was shot right on the streets of New York, with no approval from the city authorities. So, there was always a person on sentry duty watching for the approaching police. Another amazing thing was that Darren Aronofsky’s mother was cooking for the entire crew while the film was being shot.
Needless to say, the movie with such a rich history and an immersive atmosphere is worth watching.
Proof
Proof is an American 2005 drama directed by John Madden created by a constellation of excellent stars, including Anthony Hopkins and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The movie demonstrates what it takes to inherit your father’s mathematical genius and get a portion of mental issues as a bonus. The main heroine — Catherine, a daughter of the deceased outstanding mathematician — is learning how to accept all the gifts and, at the same time, deal with math and real life.
