"Einstein and Eddington" is a biographical TV movie that premiered in 2008. It is a dramatization of the friendship between the legendary physicist Albert Einstein and the British astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington. The movie shows how their collaboration helped shape the modern understanding of the universe.
The story begins in 1914 when Einstein (played by Andy Serkis) was still a little-known scientist trying to gain acceptance for his theory of relativity. Eddington (played by David Tennant), on the other hand, was a respected astronomer working in Cambridge, England. Einstein's ideas were considered radical at the time, and most scientists were skeptical of them. However, Eddington saw the potential of Einstein's theories and decided to put them to the test.
The movie depicts how Eddington, with the help of a few other scientists, organized an expedition to the island of Principe off the coast of West Africa, where they observed a total solar eclipse. The goal was to measure the deflection of starlight by the sun's gravity, a phenomenon predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity. The results of the experiment confirmed Einstein's theory and made him an overnight sensation in the scientific world.
The movie also explores the personal lives of Einstein and Eddington. Einstein, who was living in Germany at the time, was struggling to cope with the outbreak of World War I and the anti-Semitic sentiment that was on the rise in Europe. Eddington, meanwhile, was dealing with his own personal struggles, including the loss of a close friend in the war and his love for a married woman.
Overall, "Einstein and Eddington" is a well-made biopic that sheds light on the fascinating story of two brilliant scientists who changed the course of science. The film provides a glimpse into the personal and professional lives of these two iconic figures and highlights the importance of their collaboration in shaping our understanding of the universe.