The film portrays Marie Curie as a dedicated scientist who is willing to sacrifice everything for her work. She spends hours in her laboratory, experimenting with various materials in order to find new knowledge. Her husband Pierre, played by Sam Riley, is her partner in science and love, and they both enjoy exploring the wonders of the natural world.
As Marie’s reputation grows, she faces mounting opposition from her male colleagues. They are threatened by her success and refuse to recognize her as an equal. Despite this, she learns to forge her own path and continues to make significant contributions to science.
The film also delves into Marie’s personal life. She grapples with the tension between her work and her family, as she raises two daughters while pursuing her scientific career. Her husband’s tragic death in a street accident is inspiring to watch as we see Marie’s determination to pursue their common work to the very end.
The highlight of the film is Rosamund Pike’s portrayal of Marie Curie. She captures the scientist’s intensity, her passion for science, and her indomitable spirit. Pike’s performance is both sympathetic and powerful, making us root for this remarkable woman, a woman whose struggles throughout her life were often difficult to imagine.
However, the film is not without its flaws. It glosses over some of the controversies surrounding Curie’s scientific work, ignoring how some of her experiments were dangerous to her and her collaborators. There are also simplified scenes that oversimplify the complexity of Curie’s work.
In conclusion, Radioactive is a well-crafted biopic that highlights the life of an influential female scientist. Though it leaves out some aspects of her work, such as the controversy surrounding her laboratory equipment, it nonetheless presents an inspiring portrayal of Marie Curie as a passionate and dedicated scientist, a woman who overcame adversity to change the world of science forever. The film will undoubtedly leave its audience feeling inspired and awed by the accomplishments of one of history’s most remarkable women.