Adventures of a Mathematician – A Decent Biographical Drama

Thor Klein’s Adventures of a Mathematician tells the story of a Polish scientist named Stanislaw Ulam (Tlokinski). Among his other scientific achievements, the film mainly focuses on his work on the Manhattan Project and his contributions towards the building of the Hydrogen Bomb. Based upon Ulam’s book Adventures of a Mathematician. it may be biographical in nature in following him as he transitions through various phases of his career and personal life, but audiences can also look at it as a history lesson about the brutal realities of the most destructive weapons and their impact on those who developed them.

Excellent biographies do more than merely just give audiences a glimpse of momentous events in their subjects’ lives but rather takes them into their minds by putting them in their shoes. The film succeeds at transporting us to Ulam’s world while celebrating the work of an uncelebrated scientist who left a major impact on the field of mathematics, shaping of the outcome of World War II. Told entirely from his perspective, the film keeps that focus until the very end. To introduce the man as he appeared to the outside world, it offers glimpses of his genius through his many obsessions. For understanding the man himself, it did so through some of the ethical dilemmas he faced, his family relationships, and several moments of solitude.

Adventures of a Mathematician talks about the philosophical dilemmas and concerns that bugged many of those involved with the Manhattan Project. Should one develop such weapons? If one helps in the building of such a weapon, are they complacent to the crime, and have blood on their hands? These are deep philosophical questions that are difficult to answer because, on one hand, many want to end the war, but on the other, the consequences of these weapons are well-known. While there are no binary answers, the film shows audiences the internal and external conflicts the brilliant minds go through as Ulam debated and fought for what he believed was the ‘right way’ to prevail. While the film does not offer much in the way of answers, it forces audiences to think about the overarching impact of these questions.

Countless soldiers faced difficulties surviving the war not to mention the physical and mental impact on others working behind closed doors. The film presents a realistic picture of the troubles scientists working on the Manhattan Project went through, shedding light on how war adversely affects even those not on the field, highlighting how the extent of the damage beyond that of those directly impacted. Meanwhile, an important theme of the film was family and relationships as Ulam had a family that he left behind in Poland that he still worried about. His genius and willingness to work on the Manhattan Project, however, tested his relationships and presented its own set of challenges.

The film’s simplistic approach tells Ulam’s story through a realistic lens, supported by its performances. Tlokinski as Ulam delivers a poignant performance that brings out the complexities of such a character. Garrel, as Ulam’s wife Francoise and Fabian Kociecki as Ulam’s friend Johnny von Neumann, are decent enough. Ulam’s moments of solitude where the film simply stays with him and his thoughts are well-captured and add a unique touch. Problems creep up, however, by the final act as it wavers around different plot threads and cannot provide a satisfying conclusion to this man’s legacy. It cannot execute anything climactic except some resolutions on the part of Ulam. The rigid focus on his perspective sometimes feels diminishing due to the limited point of view. But, all things considered, the film has a lot to share, delivering on the fronts expected from a biographical film.

In the end, Adventures of a Mathematician presents a decent account of a genius scientist whose life often brings him to crossroads. While some scenes will remind the viewers of The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything, they will surely find something to chew on after watching this film. A strong recommendation for history and World War II buffs.

still courtesy of Vortex Media

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