When Nothing Makes Sense (and That's the Point): Exploring Absurdism in Film
Okay, let’s talk about something delightfully weird: absurdism. It’s a term you’ve probably heard floating around, often alongside existentialism – they’re close cousins, really – but it essentially boils down to this: recognizing that life is fundamentally meaningless, illogical, and chaotic. Not in a depressing way (though it can be), but in a way that frees us from the pressure of finding some grand cosmic purpose. It's about embracing the ridiculousness of existence.
Think about those moments where you just stare at something – maybe a pigeon doing a weird dance, or an overly complicated instruction manual – and think, "Well, this makes absolutely no sense." That’s absurdism bubbling to the surface! And cinema has always been a fantastic playground for exploring that feeling.
You see it in different forms. Sometimes it's outright comedic, like a Buster Keaton silent film where everything goes hilariously wrong because of pure circumstance. Other times, it's darker and more unsettling, forcing us to confront the void. Declan Sennott’s Intrusion is a brilliant example of that unsettling brand – imagine being forced to experience emotions through orchestrated violence? The premise alone throws logic right out the window, and Adam's detached perspective amplifies the discomfort brilliantly. It's not trying to explain anything; it's just presenting this bizarre situation and forcing you to feel its absurdity.
Then there’s something like Dead Weight Carries, which takes a darkly comedic approach to a truly terrible situation – concealing a body! The sheer preposterousness of their actions, set against the backdrop of an increasingly surreal chase, highlights how people often behave in illogical ways when driven by fear or loyalty. It's funny because it’s awful, and that discomfort is part of the point.
What I love about films like Molli and Max in the Future is how they use fantastical settings – hopping between planets and cults - to underscore this sense of detachment from reality. The narrative loops back on itself, mirroring the cyclical nature of life and suggesting that even across vast distances and time periods, human connection remains strangely persistent, yet utterly baffling.
And it’s not limited to sci-fi or thrillers! Even a documentary like What's Going On? touches upon absurdism by presenting these diverse individuals grappling with fundamental questions about existence. Their earnest search for meaning, juxtaposed against the chaos of the world around them, can feel inherently…absurd.
Ultimately, films that lean into absurdity aren’t trying to provide answers. They're prompting you to question things—to embrace the inherent weirdness and find your own way of navigating a universe that doesn't necessarily have a guidebook. It’s kind of liberating, isn’t it?
So, what do you think? Have you encountered absurdism in film before? I’d love to hear about it!