Common Themes between the Movies Madame Curie and Contact (Essay Sample)

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Common Themes between the Movies Madame Curie and Contact
In a century where women were largely expected to concentrate on family and everything else but education, the movies ‘Madame Curie’ and Contact are set in two different time frames with differences in society’s thinking and beliefs. While Madame Curie is set in the early 1920’s, a period when most women did not greatly contribute in science or scholarly activities, ‘Contact’ is set in a period when society has gradually accepted the contribution of women in science. The two movies have a common theme, which constantly runs through them, women and science. This paper seeks to clearly show the common themes between the two movies and what might have driven the producers to create them.
Historical Context
The early twentieth Century was mainly characterized by strong male characters while women often if not always were greatly overlooked in matters academic. It is during the twentieth century that there were many breakthroughs in science leading to great scientific discoveries. Madame Curie is film portraying the exemplary scientific exploits of the Curie family and their eventual demise during a laboratory session that exposed the couple to excessive radiation. On the contrary, contact is another film that explored the social and ethical vicissitudes that the scientific personality encounters. The concept of a God-head is central to all religious pursuits. However, those devoted to scientific exploration occasionally depart from the religious convictions and stray into words of aliens and multiple deities (Steinke 124).
A discussion of the Themes
Theme of Women and Science
The major themes that I found common in the two films are women and science, determination, dedication and society’s view of scientists. In both films, we see portrayals of strong women in the field of science who bring significant change in the field. In Madame Curie, Marieis dedicated to her work so much that she does not realize that she is in love with Curie. In Contact, Ellie Arroway is so determined to make contact with extra terrestrial beings and when she finally does, she is chosen to lead the team she works with. In both films the two women are presented as heroines who overcome obstacles through determination to actually make an impact in the world of science.
Theme of Society’s view of scientists
As much as both films seem to focus more on the women, their male counterparts clearly bring out the way society views scientist. Whereas society prescribes expectations for the ordinary man, the scientifically devoted individual is always divorced from the trappings of culture. They are portrayed as not being in touch with the rest of the world and too concerned with their work. We see the end of Curie while he gets knocked down on the street because he was absent minded. It clearly tries to show that scientists get lost in a world of their own which may be too bad for them. Nevertheless, the films both do not tend to provide justifications and moralizations and as such it is upon the viewers to develop their conclusions.
Theme of Love
Although it does not appear as strongly theme in the films, it is most definitely the basis for the two films hand in hand with science. In both films, love drives the women without even their realization. Madame Curie falls in love with the professor and they both devote their lives to scientific exploits. Somewhat, it is the love they share and the great admiration they have for each other that keep the tempo of their work and devotion. Perhaps if not for love, they both would fall apart and never really fully devote their lives to the scientific endeavors and accomplishments.
Society’s Influence in the Films.
The portrayal of scientists in the two films is to me an influence by the society as opposed to the films influencing the society’s thinking on science. Since the early centuries, it has been believed that science is one of the complicated disciplines and often pursued by great minds. H...