The Vernon Film Society is carrying on the tradition of showing three movies throughout the summer at the Vernon Towne Cinema.
The first screening, Monday, July 11, features The Man who Knew Infinity, starring well-known actors Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel (Slum Dog Millionaire), and tells the true story of a little known genius named Srinivasa Ramanujan.
He was a poor, unknown Indian mathematician who was invited to Cambridge University, where his work on number theory, continued fractions and infinite series revolutionized the field.
Ramanujan had to battle racism, even from the enlightened academics at the university, and this historical drama shows how precarious genius is and how the power of his deep friendship with his mentor G.H. Hardy (Irons), who pushed him to prove his theories, was so important.
World renowned mathematicians were advisors on the movie and the London Mathematical Society proclaimed that it “outshines Good Will Hunting in almost every way.”
Although the film is set in the time immediately before the First World War, a far different time from ours, it has universal themes of friendship and overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.
It will capture the attention of anyone who enjoys the type of film that makes one think and learn about a little-known, outside-of-math circles, important world figure.
The Man who Knew Infinity screens at the Vernon Towne Cinema Monday at 5:15 and 7:45 p.m. All tickets are $7 (cash only), available in advance at the theatre and the Bean Scene. The film is rated PG (for violence).