Pathe
Wildgaze Films
Not part of a collection.
JOY
Three pioneers, one vision: the birth of IVF.
A young nurse, a visionary scientist and an innovative surgeon face opposition from the church, state, media and medical establishment, in their pursuit of the world’s first ‘test tube baby’, Louise Joy Brown.
- Original title
- JOY
- Language
- EN
- Country
- GB
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
griggs79
Dec 1, 2024 · via TMDB
_Joy_ directed by Ben Taylor, delves into the overlooked story of Jean Purdy, a key figure in the creation of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The film not only brings to light Purdy's often ignored contributions but also serves as a critique of the long-standing marginalisation of women in scientific breakthroughs. It aims to reclaim a narrative that has historically sidelined the role of women in such significant achievements. Ben Taylor's direction chronicles the groundbreaking development of IVF with an approach reminiscent of a sports film. Though the audience knows the outcome—over two million children have been conceived via IVF since 1979—the film immerses you in the highs and lows, triumphs and failures, leading to the birth of Louise Brown, the world's first "test-tube baby." Thomasin McKenzie's portrayal of Purdy stands out, adding depth to a character who faced significant professional and personal challenges. Bill Nighy offers a memorable turn as surgeon Patrick Steptoe, blending compassion and wit. At the same time, James Norton brings warmth to the role of scientist Robert Edwards. Together, the trio captures the tension, camaraderie, and determination needed to challenge societal and scientific norms. The film's strength lies in its focus on the procedural breakthroughs and emotional and ethical dilemmas its protagonists face. It frames the IVF journey as a collective struggle against deep-seated prejudices, balancing moments of triumph with the harsh realities of rejection and scepticism. However, some aspects of the storytelling feel superficial, and the film needs to fully dive into its characters' complexities. The marginalisation of women in the scientific and medical fields is an ongoing issue. Historically, many female scientists have been overshadowed by their male counterparts. For example, Rosalind Franklin's pivotal work in discovering the structure of DNA was primarily credited to James Watson and Francis Crick. Similarly, the film _Hidden Figures_ brought to light the incredible contributions of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—African-American women mathematicians at NASA—whose work was crucial to the space program's success but went uncelebrated for decades. _Joy_ is a commendable effort to highlight an important figure and the persistence required behind one of modern medicine's significant achievements. While the film has flaws, it succeeds in shedding light on Purdy's legacy and the crucial role of women in scientific innovation, ensuring their contributions are finally acknowledged.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Bill Nighy
Patrick Steptoe
James Norton
Robert Edwards
Thomasin McKenzie
Jean Purdy
Charlie Murphy
Trisha Johnson
Rish Shah
Arun
Cecily Cleeve
Caroline
Eoin Duffy
Colin
Mariam Haque
Marie
Abbiegail Mills
Meg (Older)
Joanna Scanlan
Gladys May
Tanya Moodie
Muriel
Ella Bruccoleri
Lesley Brown
Douggie McMeekin
John Brown
Miles Jupp
George
Louisa Harland
Rachel
Toby Williams
Mr. Miller
Adrian Lukis
Professor Mason
Surinder Duhra
Mr. Sandhu
Robert Wilfort
Reverend Paulson
Ruth Madeley
Maggie
Jemima Rooper
Ruth Edwards
Harriet Cains
Gail
David Atkins
Harry
Heather Agyepong
Kathy Gibson
Justin Edwards
Michael Barratt
Anastasia Hille
Sheila Howarth
Richard Durden
Sir Norman Jeffcoate
Pip Torrens
Roger Short
Nicholas Rowe
James Watson
Simon Paisley Day
Brian Baines
Ashna Rabheru
Sally
Emily Fairn
Lily
Carla Harrison-Hodge
Alice
Peter Sandys-Clarke
John Webster
Michael Keogh
Reporter 1
Sinéad Kidao
Costume Design
Tara McDonald
Makeup Designer
Nikita Mitchell
Stunt Double
Lucy Bevan
Casting Director
Steven Price
Original Music Composer
Glenn Freemantle
Sound Designer
Glenn Freemantle
Supervising Sound Editor
Jack Thorne
Story
Jack Thorne
Writer
Looking for Angelina
Rhapsody in Blue
Schindler's List
Hope
Forrest Gump
The Pianist
Gladiator
Taxi Driver
Pride & Prejudice
Yojimbo
Ran
Catch Me If You Can
Cosy Dens
Million Dollar Baby
Braveheart
Mirror
A Bronx Tale
The Pursuit of Happyness
Downfall
A Beautiful Mind
Two Portraits of MIYAGINO
Brokeback Mountain
Wings of Desire
A Walk to Remember
Manhattan
Victim of Love: The Shannon Mohr Story
Atonement
The Last Samurai
King Richard
Walk the Line
Breaking the Waves
Letters from Iwo Jima
Apollo 13
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Erin Brockovich
Sense and Sensibility
Boys Don't Cry
The Last King of Scotland
Joyeux Noel
In the Best of Families: Marriage, Pride & Madness
Sissi
Like Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes
Driving Miss Daisy
Spare Parts
The Boys in the Boat
Milk
The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Dreamers
Breakfast on Pluto
The Boat That Rocked
The Divine Order
Audrey's Children
12 Mighty Orphans
Casualties of War
The Poseidon Adventure
Munich
Bed and Board
Sissi: The Young Empress
Sissi: The Fateful Years of an Empress
Brubaker
Drugstore Cowboy
Seabiscuit
Boomerang!
Invincible
Monsieur Ibrahim
Love on the Run
The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum
Amistad
New Tale of Zatoichi
Capote
Heavenly Creatures
Valkyrie
Bronson
Sam Bahadur
The Queen
The Sweet Hereafter
Big Wednesday
Hard Miles
Curse of the Golden Flower
Sink the Bismarck!
Lefter: The Story of the Ordinarius
23
The Angel of Vengeance: The Female Hamlet
Owning Mahowny
Mermaids
The Return of Martin Guerre
The Spirit of St. Louis
Collision
County Lines
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
M. Butterfly
Uno
Cantinflas
The War Is Over
Apollo 11: First Steps on the Moon
Child of Kamiari Month
Next Goal Wins
Sommersby
Boléro
Daisy Miller
Popular Music
Stander
Peacock
Topaz
12 Days with God
Word
Women Is Losers
Air America
The Atomic Adventure
Wallflower
Something to Talk About
Justice for Annie
She Walks by Night
Running on Empty
Hedonistic Pleasures
Women Without Men
Battle of Wan Cheng
The Serenade of An Ancicnt Stronghold
Suzanne
Ray of Hope
Runaway American Dream
Untitled Chico Mendes Biopic
Brides
Dû bist mîn ich bin dîn
Ulkar
The Stunt Driver
The Match King
Ford v Ferrari
Something the Lord Made
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
Awakenings
I, Daniel Blake
Cabrini
Holding the Man
Breakthrough
Big George Foreman
The Six Triple Eight
The Hurricane
Erin Brockovich
Miracles from Heaven
Selma
Train Dreams
The Boys in the Boat
Fatima
The Rainmaker
Jesus Revolution
Mum's List
If These Walls Could Talk
All the Way
Shirley
The Children Act
Freud's Last Session
Cradle Will Rock
Call Jane
Uprising
Maria
Skin
Testament
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
I Am Woman
Nov 22, 2024
Netflix
