The Passion of Ayn Rand is a 1999 American biographical drama television film directed by Christopher Menaul and written by Howard Korder and Mary Gallagher, based on the 1986 book of the same name by Barbara Branden.
The film stars Helen Mirren as philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand, who engages in an affair with Nathaniel Branden, played by Eric Stoltz, a psychologist who is 25 years younger than she is. Branden built up an institute to spread Rand's ideas, but the two eventually had a falling-out. The film also stars Julie Delpy as Branden's wife Barbara and Peter Fonda as Rand's husband Frank O'Connor.
The Passion of Ayn Rand premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 1999, and aired on Showtime on May 30, 1999. It received moderately positive reviews from critics.
Cast Helen Mirren as Ayn Rand Eric Stoltz as Nathaniel Branden Julie Delpy as Barbara Branden Peter Fonda as Frank O'Connor Sybil Darrow as Caroline Tom McCamus as Richard Don McKellar as Alfred Donald Carrier as David Katherine Trowell as Woman at funeral Tomas Chovanec as First student Patrick Garrow as Second student Sergio Di Zio as Fifth student Hakan Coskuner as Florist
Production Filming took place in Toronto.
Release The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 1999. It aired on Showtime on May 30, 1999.
Reception
Critical reception Based on reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall approval rating from critics of 80%, with an average score of 6.8/10. Writing in Variety, David Kronke called the film "an ambitious, visually sumptuous attempt to depict a bizarre element of a controversial personality's life". Kronke went on to say, "Unfortunately, its insistence on maintaining a detached point of view towards its characters – or, rather, no point of view at all, as the filmmakers seem reticent to offend either Rand fans or detractors – renders it dramatically inert."
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee Result1999Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a MovieHelen MirrenWonOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a MoviePeter Fonda Nominated2000Golden Globe AwardsBest Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TVPeter FondaWonBest Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TVHelen Mirren NominatedPGA AwardsTelevision Producer of the Year Award in LongformPeter Crane, Linda Curran Wexelblatt, Marilyn Lewis, Irwin Meyer, Steven Hewitt NominatedScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or MiniseriesHelen Mirren NominatedOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or MiniseriesPeter Fonda Nominated
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