I saw a movie on Ayn Rand's life, called simply "Ayn Rand." It was not the best movie I'd ever seen (quite bad actually), I must say, but I think it offered a very good insight into Rand's life, especially her love affairs, and showed how  her philosophy reflected on her relationship with Nathaniel Branden, and how she ultimately wasn't able to stand by her beliefs. She fell in love with Branden, although he was married and she was as well, and together they managed to convince their spouses that it would be utterly selfish of them if they tried to stand in the way of Rand's and Branden's relationship. They openly asked them for a permission to see each other once a week and have sex together. The spouses were so cornered by their lofty words that they gave in, but were, quite naturally, miserable. This went on for quite some time, until Branden got tired of Rand and  got himself a new lover, one of his young students. Rand absolutely lost it... forget about any objectivism. She behaved like the most cheated-upon and betrayed wife, publicly humiliated Branden (and herself) and made him leave the institution that they worked and taught in. (It might be an interesting subject for Jolie and Pitt, indeed :)). A prime example that principles of such kind are often very difficult to live up to by their creators when they are faced with their powerful emotions.

I do think Rand was nuts... a smart woman but not in the good kind of way.

   

"If you cannot say what you have to say in twenty minutes, you should go away and write a book about it." Lord Brabazon