Joy (2024)

November 15, 2024 (GB) • Drama • 115m

Overview

A young nurse, a visionary scientist and an innovative surgeon face opposition from the church, state, media and medical establishment, in their pursuit of the world’s first ‘test tube baby’, Louise Joy Brown.

Director

Ben Taylor

Writers

Jack Thorne, Jack Thorne, Rachel Mason, Emma Gordon, Shaun Topp

Top Billed

Bill Nighy

Keywords

1970s based on true story infertility period drama historical inspiring social issues 1960s reproductive rights sentimental overcoming the odds

Where to watch

Free / Included

Netflix

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Top Billed Cast

Bill Nighy

Patrick Steptoe

James Norton

Robert Edwards

Thomasin McKenzie

Jean Purdy

Charlie Murphy

Trisha Johnson

Rish Shah

Arun

Cecily Cleeve

Caroline

Eoin Duffy

Colin

Mariam Haque

Marie

Abbiegail Mills

Meg (Older)

Olivia Sellers

Sara

Joanna Scanlan

Gladys May

Tanya Moodie

Muriel

Ella Bruccoleri

Lesley Brown

Douggie McMeekin

John Brown

Miles Jupp

George

Louisa Harland

Rachel

Toby Williams

Mr. Miller

Nicolay Shulik

Julio

Adrian Lukis

Professor Mason

Surinder Duhra

Mr. Sandhu

Robert Wilfort

Reverend Paulson

Ruth Madeley

Maggie

Josephine Jones

Meg

Jemima Rooper

Ruth Edwards

Lydia Jones

Jenny

Lyllia-Rose Redmond

Sarah

Alice Bennett

Anna

Elliot Bird

Neil Robinson

Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins

Neil

Harriet Cains

Gail

David Atkins

Harry

Heather Agyepong

Kathy Gibson

Justin Edwards

Michael Barratt

Suzanne Burden

Sheena

Mark Sainsbury

John Graham

Mairi-Clare MacLean

Jan

Anastasia Hille

Sheila Howarth

Richard Durden

Sir Norman Jeffcoate

Pip Torrens

Roger Short

Nicholas Rowe

James Watson

Simon Paisley Day

Brian Baines

Eleanor Grace

Receptionist

Ashna Rabheru

Sally

Emily Fairn

Lily

Carla Harrison-Hodge

Alice

Peter Sandys-Clarke

John Webster

Madeleine Shenai

Campaign Girl

Michael Keogh

Reporter 1

Glenn Cunningham

Reporter 2

Ben Crowe

Security Guard

Crew

Finola Dwyer

Producer

Cameron McCracken

Executive Producer

Amanda Posey

Producer

Ben Taylor

Director

Jack Thorne

Writer

Erin Millican

Second Assistant Sound

Lucy Bevan

Casting Director

Beth Timbrell

Line Producer

Steven Price

Original Music Composer

Jamie Cairney

Director of Photography

David Webb

Editor

Olivia Grant

Casting

Alice Normington

Production Design

Thalia Ecclestone

Supervising Art Director

Lissa Lamona

Art Direction

Sarah Kane

Set Decoration

Sinéad Kidao

Costume Design

Lance Breakwell

Makeup Artist

Nirvana Jalalvand

Makeup Supervisor

Alice Man

Makeup Designer

Alice Man

Makeup Artist

Tara McDonald

Makeup Designer

Polly Duval

Post Production Supervisor

Angharad Batten

First Assistant Director

Andrew Balcon

Set Dresser

Noel Cowell

Property Master

Neil Glynn

Standby Property Master

Ged Henshaw

Standby Property Master

Marlow Hope

Assistant Set Decoration

Wesley Huggins

Carpenter

Henrike Knappe

Art Department Assistant

Andrew Matthews

Dressing Prop

James Kirby

Dressing Prop

Imogen McGrath

Assistant Art Director

Rebecca Sutton

Standby Art Director

Zoe Freed

Foley Artist

Glenn Freemantle

Sound Designer

Glenn Freemantle

Supervising Sound Editor

Glen Gathard

Foley Mixer

Andrew Gaidanov

Mix Technician

Steve Hancock

Boom Operator

Ian Morgan

Dialogue Editor

Fergus Pateman

Mix Technician

Nina Rice

Sound Mixer

Alex Robson

Foley Editor

Mike Tehrani

ADR Mixer

Jasper Thorn

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Mike Crowley

Special Effects Technician

Arthur Turner

Dialogue Editor

Danny Hills

Special Effects Technician

Graham Hills

Special Effects Technician

Chris Reynolds

Special Effects Supervisor

James Woods

Visual Effects Producer

Kye Mckee

Stunts

Nikita Mitchell

Stunt Double

Roy Taylor

Stunt Coordinator

Shibbir Ahmed

Digital Imaging Technician

Francesca Amoroso

Second Assistant "B" Camera

Damien Ansell

Rigging Gaffer

William Ansell

Rigging Gaffer

Simon Atherton

Electrician

Christopher Barber

Electrician

Maya Bell

Camera Trainee

Kerry Brown

Still Photographer

Jamie Bruce

Best Boy Electric

Shane Button

Lighting Programmer

Tom Callander

Drone Pilot

Phil Crothers

Drone Operator

Thomas English

Second Unit Director of Photography

Sarah Gardiner

Focus Puller

Luke Andrew Haddock

Video Assist Operator

Ruby Carmen King

Second Assistant "A" Camera

Harrison Lanigan

Standby Rigger

Ngawang Lektso

Lighting Technician

Theo Milford

Gaffer

Thomas Moss

Electrician

Ian Pearce

First Assistant "A" Camera

Dashnor Qarkaxhiu

Electrician

Adam Smart

Lighting Technician

Luke Stone

Key Grip

Tom Walden

"A" Camera Operator

Tony Paul West

Rigging Supervisor

Sam Whittingham

Electrician

Simin Zeng

Electrician

Mo Yusuf

Electrician

Sim Zeng

Lighting Technician

May Evans

Casting Assistant

Ophelia Akande

Costume Assistant

Emily Chicken

Costume Assistant

Amanda Cox

Assistant Costume Designer

Stacey Cain

Color Assistant

Henry Isaksen

Unit Manager

Ajay Lotay

Location Manager

David Butterworth

Orchestrator

Kle Savidge

Music Supervisor

Bradley Farmer

Music Editor

Brendan O'Gorman

Transportation Captain

Danny Woodland-Payne

Cast Driver

Emma Hazell

Production Coordinator

Francesca Jaynes

Choreographer

Jennie Scott

Assistant Production Coordinator

Charlotte Warn

Production Assistant

Jack Thorne

Story

Rachel Mason

Story

Emma Gordon

Story

Shaun Topp

Story

Zoe King

Foley Artist

Reviews

griggs79

⭐ 6/10

December 1, 2024

_Joy_ directed by Ben Taylor, delves into the overlooked story of Jean Purdy, a key figure in the creation of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The film not only brings to light Purdy's often ignored contributions but also serves as a critique of the long-standing marginalisation of women in scientific breakthroughs. It aims to reclaim a narrative that has historically sidelined the role of women in such significant achievements.

Ben Taylor's direction chronicles the groundbreaking development of IVF with an approach reminiscent of a sports film. Though the audience knows the outcome—over two million children have been conceived via IVF since 1979—the film immerses you in the highs and lows, triumphs and failures, leading to the birth of Louise Brown, the world's first "test-tube baby."

Thomasin McKenzie's portrayal of Purdy stands out, adding depth to a character who faced significant professional and personal challenges. Bill Nighy offers a memorable turn as surgeon Patrick Steptoe, blending compassion and wit. At the same time, James Norton brings warmth to the role of scientist Robert Edwards. Together, the trio captures the tension, camaraderie, and determination needed to challenge societal and scientific norms.

The film's strength lies in its focus on the procedural breakthroughs and emotional and ethical dilemmas its protagonists face. It frames the IVF journey as a collective struggle against deep-seated prejudices, balancing moments of triumph with the harsh realities of rejection and scepticism. However, some aspects of the storytelling feel superficial, and the film needs to fully dive into its characters' complexities.

The marginalisation of women in the scientific and medical fields is an ongoing issue. Historically, many female scientists have been overshadowed by their male counterparts. For example, Rosalind Franklin's pivotal work in discovering the structure of DNA was primarily credited to James Watson and Francis Crick. Similarly, the film _Hidden Figures_ brought to light the incredible contributions of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—African-American women mathematicians at NASA—whose work was crucial to the space program's success but went uncelebrated for decades.

_Joy_ is a commendable effort to highlight an important figure and the persistence required behind one of modern medicine's significant achievements. While the film has flaws, it succeeds in shedding light on Purdy's legacy and the crucial role of women in scientific innovation, ensuring their contributions are finally acknowledged.

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Joy (2024)

Jack Thorne, Jack Thorne, Rachel Mason, Emma Gordon, Shaun Topp

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

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