Why The Movie “Everything Everywhere All At Once” Swept the Oscars
SPOILER ALERT! Don’t read this if you’re planning to, but haven’t seen the movie yet. You also need to watch past the first 20 to 30 minutes to understand what’s going on. I promise it’s worth it.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” is a mind-bending, strange and original film that delves into a multitude of some of humanity’s biggest questions. The film succeeds in stretching our imagination and emotions to the fullest.
Directed by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, this movie takes us on a rollercoaster ride through multiple dimensions and realities, provoking thought and introspection about the deeper meanings and messages embedded within the film.
From such existential topics as the meaning of life, to a multiverse galaxy where we simultaneously exist in different worlds experiencing alternate realities, the film makes us examine our levels of interconnectedness. Our capacities for kindness and compassion. But most of all, it reminds us of our one true power, which lies in choice.
What I found most brilliant was how the film borrowed from 3 real world concepts, exploring and interweaving them throughout the storyline. The metaverse, the butterfly effect, and omniscience.
One of the film’s most prominent themes is the multiverse. The multiverse theory posits that there are infinite parallel universes existing simultaneously, each with different versions of ourselves living distinct lives. In the context of the real world, the multiverse exists in the realm of physics, particularly within the field of quantum mechanics.
The concept of simultaneous existence in different universes and realities is related to the idea of parallel universes, which is a topic of theoretical debate and speculation. One interpretation of quantum mechanics that allows for the existence of multiple realities is the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI). Proposed by Hugh Everett III in 1957, the MWI suggests that every possible outcome of a quantum event actually occurs, with each outcome realized in a separate, non-communicating parallel universe or “branch” of the multiverse. According to the MWI, countless parallel universes exist, each with different versions of ourselves and alternate histories. The movie explores this concept by showing the main character, Evelyn, traversing various realities, each one presenting a unique set of challenges and experiences.
As Evelyn navigates through these alternate realities, she is confronted with different versions of herself, some of which she might never have imagined. In one world she was a celebrated opera singer, in another a Martial Arts master. Not only can she access the memories of these experiences, but recall the body memory of those skills and talents.
Evelyn also discovers how she was previously connected to the important people in her life. Like a giant jigsaw puzzle, she sees how their many lives had intersected with their own set of different outcomes and repercussions.
Throughout her journey, Evelyn discovers that her actions in one reality can have profound consequences in another, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all things. The film highlights the importance of empathy and understanding, as we can never truly know the struggles and experiences of others, even alternate versions of ourselves. It prompts us to be more compassionate, recognizing that our actions have repercussions beyond our immediate reality.
Evelyn’s journey through the multiverse is punctuated by crucial decisions that impact not only her life but the lives of others in various realities. The film underscores the importance of personal agency, reminding us that each choice we make, big or small, can have a significant impact on the course of our lives and all that we’re connected to.
By contrasting Evelyn’s different realities and their outcomes, the film cleverly uses the concept of the the “butterfly effect”. A concept from chaos theory that emphasizes the idea of sensitive dependence on initial conditions in complex systems. The term was coined by mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz in the 1960s. The name “butterfly effect” was inspired by the metaphorical example of a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil causing a tornado in Texas.
This serves as a reminder of the complexity of life and the boundless possibilities that exist within and beyond our own universe. We choose in every moment of our existence creating different roadmaps. Just like the trees, each choice we make generates a new branch and pathway, ever meandering to create our story.
In one of Evelyn’s realities she discovers that her daughter has become omniscient, possessing the power to know everything, everywhere all at once. Omniscience can be defined as “the property of having complete or maximal knowledge”. It usually rides with omnipotent. Terms mostly reserved for describing the divine.
One would think that possessing all the world’s knowledge which includes all past, present and future events would make a person feel blessed and grateful. I often wondered what life might be like if we humans had access to talents or knowledge from other lifetimes. Ironically, one of the major realizations in the movie is how knowing everything, everywhere all at once, leads to a sense of despair and nothingness.
As humans, most of us can enjoy the element of surprise, the joy of discovery, or the experience of our evolutionary journey as we strive to grow and become the best versions of ourselves. Despite the pain and personal difficulties that arise from personal growth, it’s also intimately tied to a sense of self satisfaction and accomplishment. Striving is intimately related to happiness, for it’s in the striving not the destination, where we learn the most. Evelyn’s daughter, and at one point Evelyn herself, who have both become omniscient, find themselves being sucked into the void of emptyness and a living death.
The ending is the best part, as it showcases the importance of relationships and interconnectedness. Even if we possess all knowledge, the connections we forge with others and the emotional bonds we share remain essential sources of joy and fulfillment. Learning from others, offering support, and experiencing empathy contribute to the richness of life, regardless of the knowledge we do or don’t possess.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” made me more aware of the importance of personal growth, self-discovery, choice, the sacredness of my relationships, and how fortuante I am to enjoy these freedoms in the pursuit of happiness as I navigate the vast tapestry of life.
