‘Masterpiece’ period drama ‘as good as Chariots of Fire’ | Films | Entertainment

An under-the-radar period drama film is captivating audiences around the world as viewers are speaking about the ‘almost spiritual’ experience they had while watching the movie.

A biographical drama has left audiences ‘surprised’ at how good the film is, with viewers declaring they were ‘enthralled from the very first cut’.

Written and directed by Matthew Brown, The Man Who Knew Infinity is a film based on novelist Robert Kanigel’s 1991 book of the same name. The film released in theatres in April 2016 and is currently available to stream on Netflix.

Audiences have compared the biographical period drama to acclaimed heavyweights such as Chariots of Fire, A Beautiful Mind, Oppenheimer and Good Will Hunting, and fans are completely bowled over.

The historical period drama biopic takes a closer look at the life of pioneering Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan who came from poverty, yet his brilliant mind led him to earn admittance to Cambridge University during World War I.

It was there the mathematician met his mentor and fellow collaborator GH Hardy, and the two formed a bond worth writing stories about.

The movie’s official plot states: “The story of the life and academic career of the pioneer Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, and his friendship with his mentor, Professor G.H. Hardy.”

The film stars Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) in the lead as Srinivasa Ramanujan, and he’s joined by Jeremy Irons who takes on the role of GH Hardy. Devika Bhise, Toby Jones, Stephen Fry, Jeremy Northam, Kevin McNally, Enzo Cilenti, Arundhati Nag, and Dhritiman Chatterjee round out a stellar supporting cast.

The Man Who Knew Infinity was shot on location at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 2014, after the film spent eight years in development.

One critic said of the film: “There is something almost spiritual about this film that makes it more than just a maths biopic.”

While another reviewer wrote: “The Man Who Knew Infinity is a delightful film of a breed that we so rarely see. I hope it finds an audience.”

A third critic said: “There is not a dull moment, not a single false step in this picture. The Man Who Knew Infinity is a powerful story that will stand on its own merit.”

Audiences have been left equally captivated, with one viewer writing on Rotten Tomatoes: “Similar vein to other academic favorites like A Beautiful Mind, Oppenheimer and Good Will Hunting. Sad and inspiring — lost another genius far too young.”

Another fan of the period drama said: “The script and the filming are every bit as good as Chariots of Fire, except that all the characters are likable. The movie leaves you with a feeling that you wish you had friends like that.”

One viewer posted: “I wasn’t expecting much, but what a surprise this film was! A true story of inspiration – it gives us a glimpse into our history of racism, and how a strong, beautifully driven spirit overcame all obstacles while remaining true to himself and his beliefs. Great for the whole family!”

While a IMDB user review of the historical biopic says: “So beautifully directed, enthralling from the very first cut. This is so far the finest performance by Dev Patel. Without Jeremy Irons this film would have been toothless, seeing him for the first time I have never seen a character executed with such panache.

“Overall a film cannot get better than this, there are some flaws which every film has but are forgivable and probably intended to show the audience that way. Not a film to watch for the entertainment value only but solely for the essence of film watching. A standing ovation to Matthew Brown.”

The Man Who Knew Infinity is available to stream on Netflix.