Nothing is Everything|Sep. 20, 2013|United Kingdom | Romania | France | United States|107 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;Fantasy;Science;Fiction
Description: “The Zero Theorem,” a 2013 science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam, features Christoph Waltz, David Thewlis, Mélanie Thierry, and Lucas Hedges. Written by Pat Rushin, the story follows Qohen Leth, a reclusive computer genius played by Waltz, who is obsessed with uncovering whether life has any inherent meaning. Gilliam has suggested that the film might serve as the third installment of a dystopian trilogy, which includes “Brazil” (1985) and “12 Monkeys” (1995), though this remains ambiguous.
Qohen, an eccentric programmer who speaks of himself in the plural, works for a company called Mancom, where he is tasked with “crunching entities.” Plagued by existential angst, he anxiously awaits a phone call he believes will bring him fulfillment or answers. After requesting a disability evaluation, Qohen is deemed physically healthy but mentally unstable, leading him to undergo therapy with an AI therapist, Dr. Shrink-ROM. Seeking permission to work from home, he encounters “Management” at a party hosted by his supervisor, Joby. Despite being labeled as “quite insane,” Qohen’s request is eventually granted. At the party, he meets Bainsley, a guest who later rescues him from choking on an olive.
Once working remotely, Qohen focuses on organizing data from the Neural Net Mancrive, a supercomputer containing all crunched entities. His goal is to solve the enigmatic “Zero Theorem,” a mathematical formula that might hold the key to life’s meaning. As he isolates himself for months, Qohen’s mental health deteriorates, with Shrink-ROM diagnosing multiple conditions and his nightmares increasingly revolving around a black hole.
“The Zero Theorem” explores themes of isolation, existentialism, and the search for purpose, all set against Gilliam’s signature surreal and dystopian visual style.
Cast director: Terry Gilliam
Cast actor: Christoph Waltz, David Thewlis, Mélanie Thierry, Lucas Hedges, Matt Damon, Ben Whishaw, Tilda Swinton, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Margarita Doyle, Rupert Friend
Original name: The Zero Theorem