Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known for their 2016 film Swiss Army Man, have returned with their new film Everything Everywhere All At Once. It is worth mentioning that the Russo Brothers, directors of the Avengers and Captain America movies, are also co-producers of the film.

At the center of this philosophical sci-fi action movie is Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh), a Chinese immigrant woman living in America with her husband, daughter, and father, running an ordinary laundry business, facing daily financial struggles like any other typical family. However, after visiting the income office for the routine management of the laundry, things take a drastic turn and events unfold. She finds herself on a mission to save the world, having been chosen for a higher purpose. This is also a journey to discover the meaning of life.

The film builds on the popular theory of multiple universes often explored in sci-fi cinema. Evelyn learns that she is the worst version of herself in all alternative universes. The film also shows how the turning points of her life have affected her entire existence like a domino effect. We see the protagonist in her most beautiful version in another universe. Throughout the film, we witness various versions of her, such as a cinema star or chef, in different universes. As the title suggests, everything is happening everywhere all at once. This is a kind of reference to modern humans who are constantly trying to keep up with everything, prone to unhappiness and dragged towards nothingness.

Evelyn interacts with the good versions of herself in alternative universes along with the mission given to her. The bad character that Evelyn needs to defeat to save the world is Jobu Tupaki. This character is another version of Evelyn’s own daughter in a parallel universe, and it is a critical turning point for her. Tupaki has seen all the universes and has reached a point of nothingness. According to him, everything is nothing. Tupaki has designed a black hole called “the sum of everything,” which covers everything in all universes and has the power to destroy them. In her own universe, Tupaki is trying to convince Evelyn to be pulled into this black hole.

As for the film’s narrative style, it can be said that it tells real-life problems in a surrealistic style. The film’s style does not give up the absurdity and its fight choreographies are also dizzying, to be honest. Despite having a philosophical subtext throughout the film, events flow with a fast and dynamic plot. In this respect, the contrast created also needs to be emphasized. The film, which also makes many references to films such as Matrix and Ratatouille, sometimes does not even leave room to breathe, follow, or think. Due to the film’s fast and dynamic plot, many details can be missed on the first watch. Therefore, it is a film that deserves to be watched multiple times.

The Matrix reference in the film is not only limited to fight choreographies. It is also possible to see traces of the philosophical subtext. As part of this, there is also a serious nihilism debate in the film. Despite the negative connotation of nihilism, we can say that there is an optimistic nihilism at the end of the film. Contrary to thinking that everything is meaningless and insignificant, each individual can find and define the meaning of life for themselves. The meaning of life is actually to live, experience, and struggle.

We should also note that the film made its mark with 11 nominations and 7 awards in different categories at the 95th Academy Awards ceremony.