New Showbiz

You are here:
What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?

What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?

2004

Not Rated

Director

William Arntz, Betsy Chasse, Mark Vicente

Runtime

109 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Amanda is a divorced woman who makes a living as a photographer. During the Fall of the year Amanda begins to see the world in new and different ways when she begins to question her role in life, her relationships with her career and men and what it all means. As the layers to her everyday experiences fall away insertions in the story with scientists, and philosophers and religious leaders impart information directly to an off-screen interviewer about academic issues, and Amanda begins to understand the basis to the quantum world beneath. During her epiphany as she considers the Great Questions raised by the host of inserted thinkers, she slowly comprehends the various inspirations and begins to see the world in a new way.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.7/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film maintains a neutral stance regarding queer identities. It focuses on philosophical inquiry rather than identity-based narratives, avoiding both specific representation and derogatory tropes.

Gender Representation

Good

Amanda, a female protagonist, anchors the exploration of reality. Her journey subverts male-dominated scientific tropes by centering a woman's intellectual and spiritual epiphany as a vehicle for universal truth.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The production avoids an Anglo-centric worldview by incorporating a diverse array of global thinkers. This pluralistic approach integrates non-Western epistemologies into the discussion of consciousness.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film critiques Western scientific materialism by elevating Eastern philosophical traditions. It promotes intellectual pluralism, favoring a subjective, consciousness-based understanding of existence over empirical science.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There are no significant depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. No characters appear to use disability as a central plot device or defining trait.

Strengths

  • Subverts male-dominated scientific tropes by centering a female protagonist's intellectual journey.
  • Challenges Western materialism by integrating Eastern philosophical traditions and non-materialist perspectives.
  • Promotes intellectual pluralism through a diverse array of global thinkers and philosophers.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation or centering of LGBTQ+ identities and narratives.
  • Provides no significant depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
  • Focuses heavily on abstract philosophy rather than specific social identity-based storytelling.

AI Analysis

The film succeeds in disrupting Western epistemological hierarchies by presenting a multi-dimensional view of reality. It moves beyond a purely materialist perspective to include diverse philosophical frameworks. By centering a female protagonist in a traditionally male-dominated intellectual space, the film grants women significant agency. The inclusion of global thinkers further prevents the narrative from becoming a strictly Western-centric monologue. However, the film lacks specific focus on identity-based representation, such as LGBTQ+ narratives or disability. Its primary goal remains philosophical, which limits its impact on social identity diversity.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

  • Best Religious & Cultural Representation in Film
  • Religious & Cultural Representation in Drama

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Voyage of Time: Life's Journey

Voyage of Time: Life's Journey

2017

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 4.5 out of 10

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.