JOY

"Three pioneers, one vision: the birth of IVF."

2024 1h 55m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 187

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

“Three pioneers, one vision: the birth of IVF.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

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

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ben Taylor
Writers: Jack Thorne, Jack Thorne, Rachel Mason
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 2 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ben Taylor, shot by Jamie Cairney. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Steven Price. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor David Webb shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Bill Nighy and James Norton and Thomasin McKenzie carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Three pioneers, one vision: the birth of IVF.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt10243672 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ben Taylor directs. Jamie Cairney behind the camera. Steven Price scores. David Webb cuts. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 2 years ago.
2Directed by Ben Taylor, shot by Jamie Cairney. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Steven Price. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor David Webb shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Bill Nighy and James Norton and Thomasin McKenzie carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Three pioneers, one vision: the birth of IVF.".
7IMDB entry: tt10243672 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 10 themes, including "1970s", "based on true story", "infertility", "period drama".

The technical file

Cinematography: Jamie Cairney
Original score: Steven Price
Editing: David Webb
Production design: Alice Normington
Costume design: Sinéad Kidao
Makeup / hair: Lance Breakwell
Sound: Glenn Freemantle
Stunt coordinator: Roy Taylor
Runtime: 115 min · 1h 55m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: JOY (2024)

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Ben Taylor

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Community reviews

What people are saying

griggs792024-12-01
★ 6/10
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.

Production companies