The Academy Awards Nominated Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score and received the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Eddie Redmayne's impeccable performance, The Theory of Everything (2014) is an instant classic that demands attention.
Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones co-starred in the picture that observed the relationship of the famous Stephen Hawking and his wife, Jane Hawking, as based on her book Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen (2007). The Theory of Everything portrays a memoir of the early romance, marriage and (no spoiler here) dissolution of the Hawking's union.
This award-winning film touches on many things: the evolution of Hawking's studies, his pursuit for a theory to explain all things, atheism, faith, the regressive effects of Lou Gehrig's disease, the duty of friends and family and most importantly the determination of a man and woman to prevail against the severest of hardships.
Hawking could have wallowed at the loss of his bodily functions, but we are a resilient species and the desire to live trumps all if grief is given enough time to process. The Theory of Everything is a triumph of the power of love and the indomitable spirit of youth. Dissolving the marriage would have been an easy out for Jane, shuddering the world would have served as escapism for Stephen, but they strove to raise a family and to prosper.
Both Hawking and Jane have their failings, their moments of weakness. That is not extraordinary, that is common to the human experience. What is most spectacular is the strength they found from deep within, the ability to cherish small moments even after sensual love passed from their relationship.