Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

Last night, I finally watched Everything Everywhere All at Once, and I honestly can't remember the last time a movie made me cry like this. I'd been in a real dilemma about watching it, because some people told me it was just a chaotic mess — that it didn’t deserve all the Oscars it won; but others said it was the best movie they’d seen in years. Well, I'm happy to report that: I belong to the second group.

This movie is brilliant!

I LOVED everything about it, the story, the absurdity, the depth — all of it. And the acting? Oh my god, Michelle Yeoh was just phenomenal. Her performance alone is worth the watch.

For me, the overarching message of the film boiled down to: love and kindness always win. And yeah, I know that might sound naive in today’s world. I know that kindness is often seen as a weakness now. But maybe that’s why it hit me so hard. Maybe that’s why I cried.

Because being kind and good-hearted takes real strength and courage, in a world where coldness, cruelty, and unfairness are the new 'cool'.

To me, it takes a lot of courage to maintaining kindness in your heart in a world where being mean or selfish is seen as clever or strong! Even when treated poorly, choosing to respond with kindness (not allowing the ugly and dark to pollute your soul) is a true superpower. Very few people have this amount of strength.

I don't believe kindness is a weakness at all. And I don't mean you should be a doormat, or being nice to people who treat you badly; what I mean is that it takes immense power to keep your heart clean, to remain a good person, and to simply let go of the badness and ugliness without seeking revenge or holding onto hurt.

That scene where Evelyn finally stoped fighting— when she finally let go and the stone falls into the valley, thats secene really struct me...  the moment when you accept to just release those whose hearts are unable to recieve love and light, those who probably havent received enough love in their own life to be able to give it back, and you finally get to the moment where you decide to let go, and still choosing not to let that darkness make you bitter. That’s power. That’s grace.

For me this movie was about finding peace in chaos, and strength in softness. About choosing not to become a villain just because you've been hurt by one. About holding onto your light, even when everything around you tries to snuff it out.

I highly recommend this movie — but here’s one crucial piece of advice if you're considering watching it: please watch it all the way through, or don’t watch it at all. If you only see part of it, you’ll most likely end up in that first group of people who just don’t get it :)

By

Dorsa Sotudé

April 11, 2023