Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26727 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-02-05
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Synopsis
Ayn Rand, author of THE FOUNTAINHEAD and founder of the philosophical sect known as Objectivism, may have been a genius, but her personal life played out like a plot from a pulp romance novel. This film is the story of Rand's affair with a man 25 years her junior, Nathaniel Branden (Stoltz), a young philosophy student whom she met during a dinner at her home along with his girlfriend, Barbara. Though Mrs. Rand was still in love with her husband (Fonda) she was so attracted to Mr. Branden, who greatly resembled the heroes of her novels, that she convinced her husband, Barbara, and Nathaniel that she must have an affair with him. A story about a very strange love triangle, THE PASSION OF AYN RAND is based on a book by Nathaniel's girlfriend, Barbara, and it illuminates the massive ego and charisma of one of the most influential females of the twentieth century.

Customer Reviews

Looking at the Passion Dispassionately?
Towards the end of "The Passion of Ayn Rand" Eric Stoltz pretty much tells a stunned crowd of ardent "Objectivist" supporters a variation on "Do what we say and not necessarily what we do". And this pretty much is the crux of the argument lain bare in the feature film adaptation of Barbara Branden's biography of the famous philosopher and author. Don't expect to see a literal translation of the biography. The film focuses completely on Ayn Rand's relationship with Brandens and the scandal that ultimately rocked all their lives.

To those unfamiliar with philosophy or works of Ayn Rand (both which are pretty much inseparable), the film will do little to endear them to the philosopher. However, to those who have read Rand's works and seen or heard her interviews the brilliance of Helen Mirren's portrayal is excellent. It is not the kindest of interpretations, but perhaps this reaction comes from our still outmoded sexist notions of the "fairer sex". Rand was a dynamic, intelligent, inspirational and flawed person, and this exactly what you get with this unflinching dramatization.