Review of The Zero Theorem (2013) by Steve B — 19 Oct 2015

The answer is Zero.

In a dilapidated, desecrated old church lives Qohen Leth (Q), a monkish slave for an entity who requires him to solve a "Zero Theorem". Yet Q wants nothing but the promised "call" to tell him the meaning of his life. While in anxious waiting, Q reduced to a life of a church rat, gnawing away day and night fitting tiny specks of cubes onto an immersive virtual edifice. But his work is never enough; "zero theorem" falls short a few percentage point.

Q has a supervisor, a psychologist and a call girl from the Management to ensure his continual effort in solving Zero. But meaninglessness and despair permeate his days and nights.

What is "Zero Theorem"? Till the intrusion of a Christ-like young teenage Bob, the son of the Management, Q finally learns that the Theorem hypothesis that there is Nothing of meaning in the universe, all chaos, all random chance, all meaningless. Why would one try to prove that everything is meaningless? Q rebelled, dismantling the machinery of computing, and dropping backward willingly into the center of the whirlpool.

G.K. Chesterton may be heartened by such a brilliant visualization of a philosophic debate of human's existence even though the trinity of scientism machinery, church, and hedonism are eventually all abandoned for the eventual moment of acceptance, contentment and even joy.

** Postscript.

I thought Leth's dilemma is the gap between what he wants to have - a source of meaning for his life, and the impossibility of the external world providing for him (a drudgery of work, a sensual pleasure purchased, an occasional psychological consultation). So in my own understanding, Leth's consciousness demands a source of meaning, and he did not achieve it until he plunged into the swirling blackhole - the zero - and rebirth into a genuine, anchored joy with the world (notice there was no girl, just the water and sunset, and the man holding the sun).

I thought the philosophic solution here is closer to mythical naturalism or Zen Buddhism instead of any dogma on salvation through a particular Christian Love ( hinted by Bob, the young boy), or the secular Romantic Love (the Girl), or the Duty (the work to solve "Zero). It is more about acceptance of our natural position of being a mortal being - the impossibility to penetrate Zero with our own intelligence and technology - but resigning into such Void.