A Beautiful Soul (film)

A Beautiful Soul is a 2001 American biographical drama film directed by Ron Howard. The film is based on the 1998 Sylvia Nasar biography of the same name, which chronicles the life of John Forbes Nash Jr., a Nobel Laureate in Economics.

The film stars Russell Crowe as John Nash, along with Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, and Christopher Plummer. It tells the story of Nash's struggles with paranoid schizophrenia and how it affected his academic achievements and personal life.

The narrative follows Nash from his graduate studies at Princeton University, where he develops his groundbreaking game theory concepts, through his deteriorating mental health and subsequent institutionalization. It also depicts his relationship with his wife, Alicia Nash, and her unwavering support of him as he battled his illness and eventually learned to manage his delusions.

A Beautiful Soul was a critical and commercial success, winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. However, the film has been criticized for its romanticized portrayal of Nash's illness and significant departures from the actual events of his life. While it captures the essence of Nash's genius and his struggles, it takes liberties with the details for dramatic effect.