Product Review

A man with no home and no job, Paul Erd¶s was the most prolific mathematician who ever lived. A wandering genius, Erd¶s, who died at age 83 in September 1996, was engaged in a cosmic struggle to uncover truths hidden by a stubborn adversary God in a metaphysical duel he confronted with the same wry humor he applied to politics, death and relationships. This one-hour 16mm documentary, filmed over a four-year period, follows Erd¶s through four countries, presenting his mathematical quest, its personal and philosophical dimensions, and the tragic historical events that molded his life. Animated sequences illustrate some of Erd¶s s favorite problems. The film was produced, directed and edited by George Paul Csicsery. Cinematography is by John Knoop, and original music was composed by Mark Adler. Animated sequences were created by Red Dot Interactive. The film was made with support from the American Mathematical Society, Film Arts Foundation, the Heineman Foundation, the Mathematical Association of America and the National Science Foundation s Informal Science Education Program.