Find something that keeps you going – Thoughts on “We’re All Gonna Die” (USA, 2024)

I typically enjoy atypical science fiction films, if at least two out of three are true:

1. they are well-written,
2. they are well-acted,
3. or have reasonably high production value.

We’re All Gonna Die has all three plus something to ponder upon afterwards, so it is a win for all. The story is a well-blended mix of gentle post-apocalyptic tension, a slowly unfolding love story, an unexpected road trip, and grief counseling. When you try to mix so many types of genres, there is a danger of messing up. However, the underhanded approach of not pushing any of the themes too hard, combined with the lessons learned from all these themes, makes this not just a coherent movie but also a highly enjoyable one.

It would not have worked if the two people wouldn’t have been able to display their complex personalities. Ashly Burch, playing Thalia, the easily angered beekeeper, and Jordan Rodrigues, playing Kai, the emotionally broken and immature EMT, are competent professionals, even if not (yet) blockbuster actors. Burch is primarily a voice actor with over 100 animation and video game titles to her credit, while Rodrigues has appeared in more than a dozen TV series and movies, many of which have won multiple awards. Their portrayals are authentic and fit the characters: they both grieve for the people they lost, they both face a crossroads in their lives, and they both need something to move on. It may be counterintuitive, but losing what they think is the most important in their lives is one of the catalysts that pushes them onward. But the real one is the human factor: they have each other by the end of the movie.

When Kai hits rock bottom, Thalia tells him, “Just find something that keeps you going and hang onto it.” This idea instantly appealed to me. I am suspicious when that happens, so I questioned myself, Why did I like it? For one, it resonated with the deeper meaning of the Hebrew word “Emunah.” On the surface, it means faith. However, in Judaism, unlike other traditions, it is more focused on trust. (Here is a drash, biblical exegesis that explains it better.) Trust/holding onto meaning or connection—even amid suffering—is a recurring and central theme in Jewish thought, especially post-Holocaust theology.

From a psychological perspective, both Resilience Theory and Viktor Frankl‘s Existential Psychology are relevant to this picture. The question of resilience often comes to my mind as I observe the world slipping into decline. I believe that answers to the questions about resilience–what it is, how it develops, what can make it stronger…–will be (NO: already are) crucial both for physical and mental survival. This film and the sentence above reinforce my belief. If you are on a philosophical bent, I recommend Joel Owen‘s essay “Psychological resilience: Connecting contemporary psychology to ancient practical philosophy” in Theory & Psychology. If you are not averse, you may also want to skim through the Positive Psychology’s summary on the topic too. The key is that resilience is defined as the ability to adapt and recover from adversity. This phrase reflects the idea of holding onto a source of strength—whether it’s a goal, belief, or relationship—that helps buffer against stress and trauma. Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning, at least in my mind, argues very similarly. It suggests that people can endure almost any suffering if they find purpose in it. That is a meaning in itself I want to hold on to and encourage you to do so too.

If you are a religious or spiritual person, then it is highly likely that the above will sound true to your core belief. Then you will find the meaning of the film close to your heart. And if you are not, or not particularly interested in escaping escapism, you can still enjoy this independent, non-blockbuster sci-fi, with a charming story, surprisingly good effects for its low budget, and funny moments.

P.s.  I love this: In the film, after Thalia says, “Any b*tch can be a queen if you feed her right,” Kai says: You should put that on a t-shirt. Then they actually sell the t-shirt on the film’s official website wereallgonnadiemovie.com.

Watch it on Amazon Prime

IMDB

In near future, everyone's gotten used to the 10, 000-mile alien tentacle that materialized in the sky, and a struggling beekeeper and a grieving wanderer must join together and take a dangerous roadtrip to get their teleported stuff back.