Photograph 51 (—)

Photograph 51 is a drama film directed by Tom Hooper, with a screenplay written by Anna Ziegler. The movie explores the life of Rosalind Franklin, the brilliant English chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose pioneering work was instrumental in revealing the double-helix structure of DNA. While her colleague James Watson and Francis Crick famously received the Nobel Prize for the discovery, often without adequately crediting her contribution, this film shines a light on the obstacles she faced in a male-dominated scientific community.

The narrative delves into Franklin's intense rivalry and collaboration with colleagues at King's College London, focusing specifically on the pivotal moment when an X-ray diffraction image known as "Photo 51" provided the crucial evidence needed to solve the mystery of DNA. The production aims to highlight both the intellectual rigor of her research and the personal challenges she endured while striving for recognition in the academic world.

• Nicole Kidman previously starred as Rosalind Franklin in the West End stage production of Photograph 51 in 2015, donating her salary to charity in honor of her father and Franklin.
• Director Tom Hooper is known for his work on historically significant dramas such as The King's Speech and The Danish Girl.
• The film is based on the acclaimed play by Anna Ziegler, which opened in London in September 2015.
• The title refers to Photo 51, the nickname given to the X-ray diffraction image taken by Raymond Gosling under Franklin's supervision in May 1952.