MathFiction: Domaine [Domain] (Patric Chiha (screenplay and director))

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Domaine [Domain] (2009)

Patric Chiha (screenplay and director)
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This subtle, slow and depressing French film concerns the relationship between a homosexual teenager and his alcoholic aunt. She is a math professor whose research is connected to Gödel's Theorem, and clearly one of her nephew's favorite people because of her passion and intelligence. However, the pressures of life and work, and perhaps something about the mathematics as well, have her in an emotional downwards spiral. It is this self-destructive cycle that is really the center of attention in the film.

To me, the interesting question is why Chiha chose to make the character of Nadia a mathematician. If the goal was to provide a vehicle for Béatrice Dalle to be vaguely sexy and very moody, that could have been achieved without bringing math into it. To some extent, it is an easy way to make her character seem deeper and smarter. Perhaps also, we are supposed to believe that math makes people crazy or depressed. (There was a brief reference at the beginning of the film to Gödel's psychological problems near the end of his life.) Or, maybe the film is actually trying to say something about math itself and its connection to reality. If so, then that message is in this soliloquy delivered by suicidal Nadia from a rehab center in Switzerland:

(quoted from Domaine [Domain])

I'm counting the days, but its not mathematics.

Last night I thought how strange it is to have stopped working. Mathematics were my greatest joy. I thought they were a way to create order out of chaos. I thought chaos was an illusion, with structures hidden behind it.

There was so much left to do. Gödel's theorem to integrate, but I didn't. I'm not lazy, but I lost my concentration. Everything was in disorder. I'd get an idea and run to my desk. But the blank page erased my idea. Where did it go? It vanished without a trace. And I'm sure it was a good idea.

It's difficult to maintain a thought and express it clearly. Talk, talk, talk. You must say something consistent to be heard. I master nothing but abuse everything. Because I have a frightening memory and nothing to transmit. Serving no purpose, serving no purpose. You clean your room, wash your bathtub, give old clothes to the poor, but that's not serving a purpose.

At some point you can no longer tidy, disorder is permanent. I can no longer find words to express it. Mathematics are no salvation. Useless, totally useless. Gödel is useless. Quantity and order are useless.

(Note: I got the text above from the subtitles. I'm not sure what was meant by "Gödel's theorem to integrate" or if it made more sense in French.)

More information about this work can be found at www.imdb.com.
(Note: This is just one work of mathematical fiction from the list. To see the entire list or to see more works of mathematical fiction, return to the Homepage.)

Works Similar to Domaine [Domain]

According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:

Morte di un matematico napoletano by Mario Martone (director)
The Queen's Gambit by Scott Frank (writer&director) / Allan Scott (writer) / Walter Tevis (writer)
Belonging to Karovsky by Kathryn Schwille
The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martinez
Antonia's Line by Marleen Gorris
Incendies by Denis Villeneuve / Valérie Beaugrand-Champagne / Wajdi Mouawad
Continuums by Robert Carr
Until Tomorrow, Then by Shaun Hamill (writer and director)
Proof by David Auburn
Babbage by Claire Barker (writer-director) / Eamon Wyse (writer)

Ratings for Domaine [Domain]:

Ratings

Have you seen/read this work of mathematical fiction? Then click here to enter your own votes on its mathematical content and literary quality or send me comments to post on this Webpage.

Mathematical Content:
3/5 (1 votes)

Literary Quality:
3/5 (1 votes)

Categories:

Genre
Motif	Mental Illness, Academia, Female Mathematicians, Math as Cold/Dry/Useless, Kurt Gödel,
Topic	Logic/Set Theory,
Medium	Films,

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Where are the new works of mathematical fiction?: As you can see from this chronological listing, this database includes many works of mathematical fiction for each year from 1990 to 2025. Strangely, only two are listed for 2026, so far. Either less mathematical fiction is being published than in previous years or I'm just having more trouble finding it. If you know of any works of fiction that should be added to this list, especially recently published ones, please let me know. (Keep in mind that I do not include self-published works or children's fiction that just covers elementary mathematical concepts.) Thanks!

(Maintained by Alex Kasman, College of Charleston)