The Nature of Existence

Directed by Roger Nygard.

This provocative documentary searches for answers to many existential and theological questions. Each question, starting out with the purpose of mankind’s existence on Earth, leads to a wide variety of intriguing answers from people all around the world including everyday people, gurus, scientists and religious experts. An attempt to ask the Pope why we exist fails when he learns that anyone who wants to spend merely 10 or 20 minutes with him is required to donate $20,000 for the orphans. How do we find happiness? Is there a God? How about why God cares about what our sex life? Why does the human race exist to begin with? Now’s your chance to explore these and other loaded, eye-opening questions that should hopefully spark debate among you, your friend, family, strangers and perhaps even with yourself. When it comes to the question of mankind’s existence one interviewee says it’s all about sex, another says about masturbation while others respond that it’s to be caretakers of Mother Earth, to feel emotions, to serve God, for evolution, to figure out why one exists, to love, to have fun and, in a rather amusing answer, non-existence has nothing to recommend it to, or, perhaps God creates us because we were lonely. Each of those is a reasonable answer worth listening to, as long as you keep an open mind.

Director Roger Nygard wisely structures the film with different chapter heading and blends in some humor along the way throughout his journeys so as not to make the subject matters seem so dry, heavy and, most importantly, so you can breathe a little while being inundated with all the answers. One such breath of fresh air is Brother Jed Smock who preaches his confrontational Evangelist beliefs on the University of Florida campus. Nygard’s friend, stand-up comedian Stevie Ray Fromstein, at one point, confronts Smock with a great question: “If God created Adam and Eve, then where did the races come from?” Later, Steve hits the nail on the head when he says that difference of beliefs matters because that’s what wars and hatred are based on. Regarding happiness, A neurologist, Dr. Andrew Newberg, whom you might recognize from one of the interviews in Religulous, states that happiness depends on several different neurotransmitters, i.e. dopamine and serotonin your body. Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar believes that happiness is realizing your true nature. Others respond that marijuana makes them happy and closeness with other people while another says that one can have moments of happiness because life is very difficult—unless you’re a total idiot.

At a running time of 1 hour and 33 minutes, The Nature of Existence is ultimately an enlightening, provocative and captivating spiritual journey well worth taking.

Number of times I checked my watch: 1

Heart:  8
Brain:  9.75
Courage:  8

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The NYC Movie Guru
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