“Creation” Movie about Darwin Can’t Find U.S. Distributor
The Telegraph is reporting that a new movie about Charles Darwin and his family, Creation, has been unable to secure a distributor in the U.S. due to its “controversial” subject matter:
Creation, starring Paul Bettany, details Darwin’s “struggle between faith and reason” as he wrote On The Origin of Species. It depicts him as a man who loses faith in God following the death of his beloved 10-year-old daughter, Annie.
The film was chosen to open the Toronto Film Festival and has its British premiere on Sunday. It has been sold in almost every territory around the world, from Australia to Scandinavia.
However, US distributors have resolutely passed on a film which will prove hugely divisive in a country where, according to a Gallup poll conducted in February, only 39 per cent of Americans believe in the theory of evolution.
Granted, movies about 19th Century scientists aren’t exactly in high demand at the multiplex. And maybe it’s not that great, although early reviews are favorable (Variety) to near-glowing (Reuters). It’s got a terrific cast (Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, Toby Jones, Jeremy Northam), a solid director (Jon Amiel), and an Oscar-winning producer (Jeremy Thomas). Perhaps it will pick up a distributor yet.
However, if it doesn’t get a U.S. release due to religious controversy, then that would be a disgrace, if not a surprise.
It sounds like the movie attempts to be even-handed about its treatment of Darwin’s conflict with his own faith and that of his wife. Roger Ebert says that, if anything, the film is too cautious in its approach:
I ask myself, do we really need to watch the Darwins edging around the substance of their disagreement? The film maker, Jon Amiel, obviously has great respect and affection for the scientist–for them both, really. Did he restrain himself in fear of provoking controversy? Has it gotten to that point? “Creation” dares not state relevant ideas that were acceptable nearly 50 years ago, when “Inherit the Wind” was nominated for four Academy Awards. There’s no such shyness in the anti-Darwin faction.
I intend to see the movie one way or another. I hope it gets a U.S. release and a fair chance. If not, it will be one more sad example of this country’s systemic ignorance and antagonism toward science winning the day.
Creation Trailer: