A feature film chronicling the life of Bertrand Russell is in the works, becoming the first theatrical biopic about the British philosopher who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 for his colorful and important work championing humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought.
Russell’s remarkable life and career, which spanned nearly a century from 1872 to 1970, established him as a pioneer of analytic philosophy and one of the greatest logicians of the 20th century. Beyond his groundbreaking work in mathematics, logic, and philosophy, he became a tireless advocate of peace and social justice.
The philosopher has been featured on television before, most notably in Will Pascoe’s 2008 documentary The Three Passions of Bertrand Russell, which featured contributions from Noam Chomsky and Vivienne Westwood. However, this is Russell’s first full-length narrative work. Apart from several television shows, Russell appeared as himself in the 1967 Indian film Aman (Peace).
Danish-Chinese filmmaker and academic Amanda Renai Card-Christiansen is writing the screenplay as part of her practice-based doctoral research at De Montfort University in the UK. The project is being developed in partnership with the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, with support from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
“Our appetite for true, meaningful, and inspiring stories is growing globally, and is undoubtedly exacerbated by the current political climate,” Card Christiansen said. “Russell’s message is important and his story has the potential to resonate with audiences from London to Beijing.”
The filmmakers see Russell’s commitment to pacifism, opposition to imperialism, and humanitarian principles as particularly resonant today. His nearly century-long life witnessed world wars, social upheavals, and political change across multiple continents, providing rich dramatic territory for films with international appeal.
The project, currently in development, will incorporate material from the Peace Foundation’s archives, along with expert consultation and research on Chinese market dynamics and audience preferences. This cross-cultural approach reflects the team’s ambition to foster opportunities for East Asian co-production.
Card Christiansen’s multicultural background puts her in a unique position in this effort. She speaks English, Mandarin, French and Danish and has built a career across continents, having lived and worked in Singapore, Canada, France, China, Denmark and the UK. Her credits span film curation (Cinemateket, Copenhagen Short Film Festival), educational programming (CPH:DOX, Danish National Film School), and production work with companies such as SAM Productions and Beo Post. She has also directed independent short films with support from Danish Film Directors, the Danish Actors Association and the Copenhagen Film Directors Association.
Hiu Man Chan, director of the project at De Montfort University and the UK-China Film Collaboration, said: “This funding model for the development of a film project is unique and one of a kind. We hope that this alternative collaboration will bring new imagination to independent filmmakers.”
Tony Simpson, Managing Director of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, added: “Bertrand Russell admired people’s creative impulses. This project will act as a bridge between our extensive archives, our independent scholarship and the creative industries.”
