“The Multiverse has never been so Emotional”
Written by: JF Nichols Cortez
Layout by: Mauri Francisco
Imagine being on a rollercoaster that increases the height of its tracks exponentially with every passing second, but due to its loops and turns, the change in elevation generally goes unnoticed. At the pinnacle height near the end of the ride, you are at an altitude higher than mountains, higher than the sky, and higher than any feelings have taken you. As the final dive begins, you realize that every loop and turn has brought you to this moment and that everything—all the laughs, screams, and tears—meant something on this ride. On its descent, you are bombarded with a further inexplicable mix of excitement, sorrow, and hope as you are confused by how a ride could depict the undepictable.
That ride is the movie “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once,” directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. It follows the struggles of Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), whose cluttered life takes a weird, yet thrilling, turn of events when she is forced to embark on a vastly unpredictable journey with the concepts of the multiverse and the looming threat to its existence known as Jobu Tupaki. In her pursuits, Evelyn had to confront the consequences born from her decisions and disputes in her relationship with her husband, Waymond Wang (Ke Huy Quan), her daughter, Joy Wang (Stephanie Hsu), and her father, Gong Gong (James Hong).
Even for someone without an eye for technicality, one could appreciate the cinematic beauty of the movie. From its powerful, sometimes comedic, use of music to its astonishing and playful visual effects, the movie has done justice to the chaotic nature of the multiverse. Another indispensable element of this piece of art is the range and depth of acting that the cast portrayed.
However, what truly made this movie stand out in an era of great movies was the underlying themes that motivated the plot. Among these relevant and compelling themes that were masterfully incorporated are the following:
Mediocrity and Perfection
This movie portrayed the strain and sacrifice of the mediocre in a world that only cares about perfection that doesn’t exist. It provides a comfortable place for a well-needed cathartic release as it reminds you that YOU are more important and more interesting than the success you strive for.
The Awkward Glass Wall
There exists a glass wall that separates a parent and child, allowing them to see and understand one another without truly connecting. Either party must be willing to break that glass and reconcile with the insurmountable amount of trauma, pressure, and the awkwardness it brings lest only leave shattered glass that scars and hurts.
Simple Love. Simple Joy.
It is the simplest love that brings joy. Love does not have to be perfect and magnanimous; it just needs to be real and enduring.
However, despite its gracefully interwoven elements, this movie might not be suited for the Filipino community. Or rather, the Filipino community is not ready for a movie that challenges the traditional, explores the unorthodox, and discusses the avoided. Yet, it is what they need—a mind-boggling film that can ignite an overdue discussion about family, love, and perfection.
So, go experience everything, everywhere, all at once. For at the end of this rollercoaster ride, the explosion of emotions you felt culminates into but a single feeling—appreciation of everything that makes up your life at that moment.
