Isn't it a wonderfully weighty question? "What’s it all about?" That search for meaning – the big “why” of existence – has driven philosophers and poets for millennia, and unsurprisingly, it’s been a fertile ground for filmmakers too. It’s not always a straightforward quest; sometimes it's hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, and often, just plain weird. And that’s what makes exploring it so fascinating.
I was thinking about this recently while rewatching Julius Cheezer: An Orison for a Glorious Life – yes, the one with the talking rodents! It sounds utterly ridiculous (and it is!), but beneath the cartoonish antics lies a genuine yearning for purpose. Julius’s quest for cheese isn't just about dairy; it's about proving himself, leaving a mark on the world. And then he meets Romeo, a human grappling with grief… suddenly you have this unexpectedly poignant exploration of loss and connection across species. It reminds me that sometimes, meaning isn't something grand we achieve, but rather something we find in unexpected relationships and shared experiences – even if one of those parties is a mouse!
The search for meaning often intersects with societal pressures, as seen in Is This All There Is to it? The film’s premise—a competition determining future social standing—highlights how external validation can become a substitute for genuine purpose. It's a bit like the pressure we feel today, fueled by social media and career ambitions; are we chasing what we want or what society tells us is valuable?
Then there's Nothing, which takes a wonderfully peculiar approach: a kid literally retreats to a tree to protest life’s lack of meaning. The response – his classmates building a "heap of meaning" from their possessions – is both touching and unsettling. It raises the question: can meaning be given? Can we manufacture purpose through objects or shared experiences, or does it have to come from within?
Films like Psyche, with its blend of dystopian landscapes and AI companions, push this exploration even further, questioning our very definition of consciousness and what constitutes a meaningful existence in an increasingly technological world. And then you have Boualem Zid El Goudam, which strips everything down to the bare essentials: two men traversing a desert, their contrasting ideologies clashing against the backdrop of vast emptiness. It’s a powerful reminder that meaning isn't universal; it's shaped by our individual histories and perspectives.
Ultimately, I don’t think there is one definitive answer to the question of life’s meaning. But these films – from the whimsical to the deeply philosophical – offer us different lenses through which to examine it. They invite us to consider what truly matters, to challenge our assumptions, and maybe even find a little bit of cheese along the way.
What film has made you ponder the big questions? I’d love to hear about it!
