**Adventures of a Mathematician** is a curiosity. It is an adaptation of Polish mathematician Stanislaw (Stan) Ulam's autobiography. The film does not make any efforts to explain his significance nor brilliance. If you are expecting **A Beautiful Mind** or **The Imitation Game**, look elsewhere.

The film is deliberately slow, and although never boring, key events that director **Thorsten Klein** chooses to depict are rather unremarkable. I suspect the word "adventures" is meant to be ironic as there's nothing adventurous in this quiet film. Our hero Stan is never intentionally placed in any danger.

The film looks and feels competent. Beautiful cinematography by **Tudor Vladimir Panduru**, period details seem spot on perfect, and understated but very solid performances (my favorite is **Esther Garrell** who plays Stan's wife). But nothing of true significance happens "on" camera. No genius at work scenes, no bombs. It's just a quiet scene after another quiet scene of Stan conflicted with morality and brooding. The film doesn't even make efforts to explain unseen figures in Stan's life that later become the sources of his anguish.

While I appreciate many quiet moments, there's just nothing substantial to hold on to. I found the film's morality implication forced and not compelling.