Emma Zetterberg, Writer 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2023, NYU, Screenwriting Award /2023, Sloan Student Grand Jury Prize Honorable Mention

Project Type: Feature 

Genre: Historical Drama

Field of Science: Physics

Stage: Development

Synopsis: 

In the chilly dawn of 1921 Stockholm, ALLVAR GULLSTRAND (60s), a stubborn, hard-working physicist, treks to his office at the Royal Swedish Academy of Science. Today, the Nobel Prize committee, including the newest and youngest member, CARL WILHELM (40s), will discuss this year’s Physics Prize nominees. When SVANTE ARRHENIUS (60s), a conservative colleague, boasts about his now grandchild, it brings back painful memories for Allvar of a brighter time in 1885 when he met and fell in love with SIGNE BREITHOLTZ (then in her 20s) during a Midsummer party. Their love blossomed alongside Allvar’s burgeoning career in optical research, leading to their marriage and the birth of their daughter, Esther. Tragically however, Esther tragically succumbs to consumption, leaving Allvar grief-stricken and causing a fixation on his professional legacy as compensation for losing his familial one.

Jolted out of his memories back into 1921, Allvar learns that Carl has nominated Albert Einstein for the Nobel Prize for his Theory of Relativity. While initially not wanting to engage in the debate around Einstein, Allvar becomes consumed by jealousy over the fact that Einstein has both fame and family. Signe warns Allvar not to fall back into old habits where his obsession with work interfered in their marriage, but Allvar still agrees to take on the Nobel Committee’s report on Relativity in the hopes of discrediting both the theory and Einstein’s nomination.

When Allvar and Signe go to the Swedish Archipelago for Allvar to focus on his work, they find that the location brings up more challenging memories from the past: Through the 1880s and 1890s, Allvar’s life is marked by professional success but personal despair. The loss of his father compounds his sorrow, driving him further into his work. In 1921, Allvar finds himself becoming a mirror to his past self as he throws himself into his research. As the world around him celebrates Einstein, Allvar’s envy grows. Signe, distressed by Allvar’s obsession, pushes him to be reasonable. When she finds an article in an anti-semitic German newspaper that discredits Einstein’s work based on his Jewishness not his science, she fears Allvar’s jealousy may be allowing him to fall prey to similar mindsets.

Allvar’s report on Relativity concludes negatively, influencing the Nobel Committee to withhold the Physics Prize in 1921, a decision that pleases Allvar but exposes the fractures in his personal life. Signe confronts him, questioning whether his actions are more about personal vendetta than scientific integrity.

Meanwhile, Carl Wilhelm, frustrated by the committee’s indecision and Sweden’s lack of recognition for Einstein, renominates him in 1922, but this time for the Photoelectric Effect instead of Relativity. Allvar takes on the report, still unable to see past his biases. As the holidays approach, Signe delivers an ultimatum: prioritize their family or face losing her. Allvar has a breakthrough of his own: he realizes that Svante–who wrote a negative report on the Photoelectric Effect–cited the anti-semitic and non-scientific German article that Signe found. However, due to his pride and their deteriorating relationship, Allvar refuses to acknowledge his discovery to Signe.

On Christmas, Allvar, consumed by work, misses the celebrations and holds an emergency meeting of the Nobel Committee. Svante and Carl Wilhelm come to blows over their clashing views on Svante’s anti-semitism. Allvar intervenes but finds himself knocked unconscious. Signe sends the scientists away and starts binge-eating (which has been her way of dealing with emotions as work has been Allvar’s). Allvar regains consciousness as Signe, choking, collapses on the ground.

This final straw–that he might lose Signe–breaks through his stubbornness. He rescues her, and the two reconcile as Allvar apologizes for his actions as a husband and as a scientist–acknowledging that he believes Einstein does deserve a Nobel Prize afterall. With newfound clarity, Allvar, Signe, and Carl devise a strategy to rightfully acknowledge Einstein’s contributions. They decide to approach the Physics Committee with the idea that Einstein should get the prize for the Photoelectric Effect instead of Relativity because the Photoelectric Effect has been proved and supported by the work of Niels Bohr, whom the committee already supports. Allvar succeeds in convincing Svante, and they award Einstein the Nobel Prize for the Photoelectric Effect, even though the world will remember him far more for Relativity.

In a gesture of letting go and moving forward, Allvar entrusts his family’s pocket watch to Carl. The story concludes with Allvar and Signe asleep in their apartment, the day’s light fading over a photo of their rejuvenated love and shared successes.