The Passion of Ayn Rand

The Passion of Ayn Rand is a 1999 television film directed by Christopher Menaul. It is based on the book of the same name by Barbara Branden (one of Rand's former associates and Nathaniel Branden's first wife). The screenplay is written by Howard Korder and Mary Gallagher. The film stars Helen Mirren as philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand, who engages in an affair with Nathaniel Branden, played by Eric Stoltz, a psychologist who is 25 years younger than her. Branden built up an institute to spread Rand's ideas, but the two eventually had a falling out. The film also stars Julie Delpy as Branden's wife, Barbara, and Peter Fonda as Rand's husband Frank O'Connor. The Passion of Ayn Rand received moderately positive reviews from critics.