As I delve deeper into the captivating tale of “Joy”, I find myself deeply moved by the life and work of the unsung heroine, Jean Purdy. Her story is a poignant reminder of the indomitable spirit that drives scientific advancement, a spirit that was tragically cut short at the tender age of 39.
The recently released Netflix film, titled “Joy,” narrates an account of one of the 20th century’s most groundbreaking scientific achievements: the invention of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
The movie chronicles the adventure of three key figures – the visionary scientist Robert Edwards, the inventive doctor Patrick Steptoe, and the trailblazing nurse Jean Purdy – who collaborated to bring the groundbreaking process to life. Particular emphasis is given to the frequently underestimated contribution made by Purdy during this historic breakthrough.
In the movie, we see a compelling ensemble featuring James Norton, Bill Nighy, and Thomasin McKenzie taking on the main characters. The script for this production was penned by writers Jack Thorne and Rachel Mason, who themselves have gone through the process of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
In our conversation with both the celestial bodies and the scriptwriters, we delved into the authentic tale portrayed in the movie, along with the extensive investigation conducted to guarantee its truthfulness. Here’s all you require to understand.
Is Joy based on a true story?
Absolutely: “Joy meticulously narrates the true account of Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards, and Jean Purdy, drawing on extensive research conducted on their groundbreaking work in the 1960s and ’70s that led to the development of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
She mentioned: “We spent a significant amount of time digging into archives and conducting extensive research during the pandemic. After taking care of our son and putting him to sleep, we’d jump on Zoom calls with numerous individuals!
Among the individuals significant to them was Grace MacDonald, a woman whose son was the first child born through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). She provided them with substantial historical details about Purdy, which enabled them to perceive her in a new and more comprehensive manner.
During our Zoom conversation with her, she completely transformed our perspective on Jean, as shared by Thorne. This was because her connection with Jean was uniquely deep compared to others we interacted with, providing us significant assistance and effectively shaping Jean’s role within the narrative.
Although Purdy serves as the main character, the movie additionally focuses on the individuals from the Ovum Club, a term used for the real women who were the initial test subjects during the experimental phase of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process.
Mason emphasized that it was vital to acknowledge their importance to the project, not just for the researchers involved, but also for themselves personally, given their own experiences with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This personal connection made them truly understand the significance of these individuals in achieving the groundbreaking discovery.
Thorne commented, “I believe this is connected to our past experiences. That’s my guess as to why the Ovum club is designed the way it is.
I strongly believe we wouldn’t have produced such writing without our past experiences – the repeated trials and errors, which were emotionally taxing for me individually and for us as a pair. It was truly harrowing. However, recognizing the courage it took to persevere through that ordeal was incredibly significant to us.
Absolutely, both the researchers, which included the scriptwriters, and the performers, notably McKenzie and Norton, delved deep into the resources provided for the movie production. The actors were particularly eager to explore the materials.
Besides observing embryologists at Guy’s Hospital in London to deepen their scientific knowledge (a “mind-boggling” experience, according to McKenzie), they also aimed to discover more about the personalities of Purdy and Edwards.
Since there’s not as much information available on Purdy, this project turned out to be “a more demanding task” for McKenzie. However, she was incredibly appreciative of the extensive research conducted by Thorne and Mason.
She stated that they thoroughly investigated Bob, Jean, and Patrick, delving into their actions, the legacy they left behind, and the factors influencing it. This accumulated information proved useful for me, allowing me to draw insights from it. Consequently, my goal was to learn everything I could about them.
I discovered where Jean spent her childhood. So, I visited the house she grew up in, located in Cambridge, and also explored Oldham, a city significant for the film’s setting and the birthplace of IVF. I went to the hospital there, as well as Guys, to gather as much information as possible about the environment they inhabited and to gain insight into Jean’s character.
McKenzie also shared “some truly heartwarming stories” from Grace MacDonald, emphasizing his commitment to honor her memory since “a significant aspect of this movie is to bring attention to Jean’s name and recognize that IVF may not have occurred, or at least not then, without her contributions”.
Besides being eager to gather information about Edwards, Norton mentioned that he listened to numerous amusing stories, some of which were unconventional due to their peculiarity.
He co-authored a book titled ‘A Matter of Life’ with Patrick. The scientific sections written by Patrick, while precise and accurate, can come across as rather technical and lack the more engaging aspects.
Regarding Patrick Steptoe, Nighy mentioned that extensive research wasn’t crucial for his method – instead, he leaned towards using the scripted material itself.
“I don’t require resembling or mimicking him, nor do I need to be aware of his past. All I ask for is an understanding of the current situation, and I’m perfectly fine with that.
What happened to Jean Purdy?
I lament that Jean Purdy, who tragically passed away at only 39 years old in 1985, had her significant contributions to the advancement of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) frequently undervalued, until quite recently.
In a footnote within the movie, it’s detailed that Robert Edward persistently advocated for Florence Nightingale’s name to be etched on a memorial plaque at Kershaw’s Hospital, where the majority of their joint efforts were undertaken. This request was fulfilled in 2015, two years after his demise and three decades following Purdy’s passing.
Nonetheless, her impact is undeniable: Since Louise Brown’s birth via In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in 1978, approximately 12 million babies have been brought into the world using this method, a figure that will likely keep climbing.
It’s clear that our movie wouldn’t exist without the groundbreaking work of Bob, Patrick, and Jean in the 60s and 70s on IVF. However, I ponder whether we would be telling this story today if it wasn’t for Bob’s persistent efforts to get Jean acknowledged. It was his campaign that ultimately made our film possible.
As a passionate moviegoer, I’d like to emphasize a profound point from this film: It wasn’t only Bob and Patrick who bore the brunt of the cost; it was predominantly Jean who suffered the most. Tragically, she passed away at 39, leaving behind no children of her own.
As a passionate film enthusiast, I’ve devoted my entire life to this craft. My final moments were spent at Bourne Hall. They created a special sanctuary for me, a space filled with mothers and women who shared similar journeys through the IVF process – these extraordinary individuals became my family in my last days.
Nighy pointed out that, in many ways, the movie significantly reestablishes Jean Purdy’s pivotal role in the progression of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
He expressed his attraction to the movie due to the perplexing and absurd notion of men disregarding women’s work solely because they don’t have a penis. This phenomenon, he finds, is something that we’re only recently beginning to address and correct the imbalance about.
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2024-11-22 14:05