National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem (2015): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2015, National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem is a drama film directed by Robin Lough, running about 103 minutes.

What it’s about. Acclaimed playwright Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love, Arcadia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead) returns to the National Theatre with his highly-anticipated new play The Hard Problem, directed by Nicholas Hytner (Othello, Hamlet, One Man, Two Guvnors). Hilary, a young psychology researcher at a brainscience institute, is nursing a private sorrow and a troubling question at work, where psychology and biology meet. If there is nothing but matter, what is consciousness? This is ‘the hard problem’ which puts Hilary at odds with her colleagues who include her first mentor Spike, her boss Leo and the billionaire founder of the institute, Jerry. Is the day coming when the computer and the fMRI scanner will answer all the questions psychology can ask? Meanwhile Hilary needs a miracle, and she is prepared to pray for one.

Who’s in it. National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem stars Olivia Vinall as Hilary, Damien Molony as Spike, Parth Thakerar as Amal and Anthony Calf as Jerry, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.0/10, National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem page.

If you liked it. Fans of National Theatre Live: The Hard Problem tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.