Thomasin McKenzie, Bill Nighy and James Norton play the trio who invented IVF in this uplifting British drama.
Every so often, a wholesome British drama comes along to perk us all up and that film right now is Joy.
This drama follows scientist Robert Edwards (James Norton), obstetrician Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy) and nurse Jean Purdy (Thomasin McKenzie) between 1968 and 1978 as they try to develop a way to help infertile women have children using scientific intervention.
They have to battle many obstacles and make personal sacrifices over 10 years as they attempt to perfect their in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technique and bring a “test tube baby” into the world.
The story is told through the eyes of Purdy, who received the least credit out of the trio and is an almost-forgotten hero of the medical breakthrough. While she did not have the scientific know-how or surgical skills of her partners, Purdy was the glue that held their pursuit together and it wouldn’t have worked without her.
Also, Purdy has an interesting moral dilemma on her hands because she is a practising Christian and fellow church-goers believe she is playing God with IVF so she has to pick between her religion and her calling.
Given that IVF is so accepted and normalised now, it’s eye-opening to see how controversial it was at the time, with outraged detractors claiming they are going against nature. They are attacked in the media simply for trying to help people achieve their dream of becoming parents.
The film tells a conventional biographical story and certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel but when the subject matter is so interesting there is no need to get too creative with it. It is well written by Jack Thorne, who injects the earnest drama with plenty of light comedic moments.
McKenzie, Norton and Nighy form a delightful trio and work so well together but McKenzie in particular shines thanks to her empathetic performance as Purdy.
Joy is a fascinating and uplifting film that will hit you right in the emotions and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. A crowd-pleaser that’s perfectly timed for the festive season.
In selected cinemas from Friday 15th November and on Netflix from Friday 22nd November.
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