Iris (2001 film)

Iris is a 2001 British-American biographical drama film that tells the story of Irish novelist Iris Murdoch and her relationship with John Bayley. The film contrasts the start of their relationship, when Murdoch (Kate Winslet) was an outgoing, dominant individual as compared to her timid and scholarly partner Bayley (Hugh Bonneville), and their later life, when Murdoch (Judi Dench) was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and tended to by a frustrated Bayley (Jim Broadbent) in their North Oxford home in Charlbury Road.

Contents

• Iris 2001 official trailer
• Plot
• Cast
• Reception
• Awards and nominations
• References

The film, directed by Richard Eyre, is based on Bayley's memoir Elegy for Iris. The beach scenes were filmed at Southwold in Suffolk, one of Murdoch's favourite haunts.

Broadbent received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role. Dench and Winslet were both nominated, for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively.

Plot

When the young Iris Murdoch meets fellow student John Bayley at the University of Oxford, he is a naive virgin easily flummoxed by her libertine spirit, arch personality, and obvious artistic talent. Decades later, little has changed and the couple keeps house, with John doting on his more famous wife. When Iris begins experiencing forgetfulness and dementia, however, the devoted John struggles with hopelessness and frustration, and becomes her caretaker, as his wife's mind deteriorates from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease.

Cast

Judi Dench as Iris Murdoch

Kate Winslet as young Iris

Jim Broadbent as John Bayley

Hugh Bonneville as young John

Penelope Wilton as Janet Stone

Juliet Aubrey as young Janet

Timothy West as Maurice

Samuel West as young Maurice

Siobhan Hayes as Checkout girl

Kris Marshall as Dr Gudgeon

Reception

Iris received positive reviews from critics, with a 79% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes from a sample of 109 critics.

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Judi Dench

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Jim Broadbent (won)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Kate Winslet

BAFTA Awards

Best British Film

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Jim Broadbent

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Judi Dench (won)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Hugh Bonneville

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Kate Winslet

Best Screenplay - Adapted

Broadcast Film Critics Association

Best Supporting Actor - Jim Broadbent

Golden Globe Awards

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: Judi Dench

Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture - Jim Broadbent (won)

Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture: Kate Winslet

Los Angeles Film Critics Association

Best Supporting Actor: Jim Broadbent (also for Moulin Rouge!) (won)

Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet (won)

Satellite Awards

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: Judi Dench

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama: Jim Broadbent

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama: Kate Winslet

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Judi Dench

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Jim Broadbent