Boy meets girl. Boy discovers the special theory of relativity. Boy dumps girl. The boy is Albert Einstein, the girl is Mileva Maric and the filmmaker's theory is that Maric was the brains behind Einstein's famous equation. Using archival film footage and photos, static shots of Maric's old stomping ground (including the Swiss Federal Polytechnical School where she met Albert), and interviews with academic scholars, the film more accurately portrays a failed collaboration and unrequited love. Originally students who shared a passion in theoretical physics near the dawn of the 20th century, Einstein's academic success would later catapult him to scientific fame, while Maric's shy and introverted personality pushed her into a subordinate role in both their work and in their relationship. In this technically serviceable production, viewers follow the arc of Albert and Mileva's relationship, from the birth of a daughter named Lieserl (who was given up for adoption), followed by their marriage, and the birth of two sons (Eduard, who would suffer from schizophrenia and Hans Albert who would later teach at Berkeley). The program also looks at Mileva's growing isolation and depression, the couple's escalating arguments (neighbors suggest that Einstein got violent), Einstein's affair with his cousin Elsa, their separation and divorce, and finally Mileva's death in 1948. Just before the credits roll, we're offered the following end-title coda: "After he asked Mileva for a divorce in 1916, Albert Einstein never wrote another important paper." In his excellent new book, Driving Mr. Albert, author Michael Paterniti finds essential agreement among scholars: Einstein could have gone fishing for the last thirty years of his life and his body of work wouldn't haven't suffered. As for cause and effect, however, I've also read that Mileva didn't have a spark of scientific originality in her head, and that she was more or less Einstein's sounding board (though she did have a talent for writing literary passages). Although this viewer wasn't convinced that Mileva was indeed the woman behind the man, it's an interesting speculation. An optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (N. Plympton)
Mileva Maric
(1999) 27 min. $24.95. Vibegirl Productions (avail. from Library Video Company). PPR. Color cover. Vol. 15, Issue 6
Mileva Maric
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