Drama,Comedy
United Kingdom
Insignificance is a 1985 independent film directed by Nicolas Roeg and based on the play by Terry Johnson. The film features four of the most iconic figures of the 1950s in America - Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein, Joe DiMaggio, and Senator Joseph McCarthy. The characters never actually met in real life, but the film imagines a scenario in which they come together for a night in a New York hotel room.
The story takes place in 1954, shortly after the end of the Korean War. Einstein (played by Michael Emil) is in New York to give a lecture, but he gets sidetracked when he meets Monroe (played by Theresa Russell) in a hotel bar. They strike up a conversation, and Einstein invites her back to his room to discuss relativity.
Meanwhile, DiMaggio (played by Gary Busey) is having a tough time dealing with his recent divorce from Monroe. He wanders the city and eventually ends up in Einstein's hotel room, where he confronts Monroe and the two have a heated argument.
In the midst of all this, Senator McCarthy (played by Tony Curtis) arrives at the hotel to meet with Einstein. The two engage in a debate about politics and communism, and McCarthy eventually reveals his true intentions - to get Einstein to publicly denounce his former colleague and friend, Robert Oppenheimer.
Throughout the film, there are flashbacks and flashforwards that give us glimpses into the characters' pasts and their hopes and fears for the future. We see Monroe's troubled childhood, Einstein's memories of growing up in Germany, and DiMaggio's struggles with fame and his declining baseball career.
Insignificance has been praised for its innovative storytelling technique and strong performances from its cast. It's a unique and thought-provoking exploration of celebrity, politics, and the human condition.
