This film is of the life of Maria Sklodowska or as we better know her Marie Curie. Maria was a Polish scientist who had come to Paris in 1891 to continue with her studies.
The film starts at the end, now i know that sounds like a weird place to begin, but as you will see one of the first scenes are of Marie Curie (Played by Rosamund Pike) collapsing in her laboratory in 1934. As the scene progresses, Marie is seen being taken on a hospital trolley down a corridor, this is where she begins her flashback to how her wondrous life had played out. At this point i will say that you will come to realise that Marie, is scared/afraid of hospitals, of which you will see why. So we are back in 1893 in Paris, Marie (A name she took to be more "French" and be accepted) literally bumps into Pierre Curie (played by Sam Riley). Marie in her seemingly abrupt manner dismisses Pierre's interest in her work and promptly continues on her way to see Professor Lippmann (played by Simon Russell Beale). Professor Lippmann has a laboratory that Marie is using part of for her studies, but this meeting was to bring the end to this arrangement.
As the only woman among a group of 23 scientists in the department, Marie now faces the challenge of finding a new work space. As she hasn't the funds to set up her own, she has to see if anyone will give her the space and a chance. She is turned down by many, she believes that this is because she is Polish or a woman, or both. Then her break comes when she bumps into Pierre once again, this time not so literally. As Pierre has also seemingly been overlooked by the establishment, he offers Marie a space in his Laboratory. He is very aware of her work and has read her papers.
The story that we then know of Marie's great work is then portrayed in a very well produced drama, with the added bit of romance and tragedy.
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