History reimagined: Nikola Tesla v Thomas Edison

Sparks fly in Tesla biopic

Nikola Tesla clashes with rival inventor Thomas Edison in quirky historical film

Kyle MacLachlan (left) and Ethan Hawke (right) as Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in Tesla.
Kyle MacLachlan (left) and Ethan Hawke (right) as Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in Tesla. PHOTO: SHAW ORGANISATION
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A quirky new historical biopic, Tesla, tells the story of Nikola Tesla - the inventor of the modern alternating current electrical system who, in recent years, has gained a cult following as an underdog scientific hero.

In the film, which opens in Singapore cinemas today, Ethan Hawke plays the enigmatic Tesla, who in the late 19th century was dreaming up unprecedented technologies for transmitting energy, light and information wirelessly all over the world.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 07, 2021, with the headline Sparks fly in Tesla biopic. Subscribe