A fictional photographer's quest to spiritually rediscover herself is interspersed with documentary footage of scientists and theologians discussing the philosophical aspects of quantum phys... Read allA fictional photographer's quest to spiritually rediscover herself is interspersed with documentary footage of scientists and theologians discussing the philosophical aspects of quantum physics.A fictional photographer's quest to spiritually rediscover herself is interspersed with documentary footage of scientists and theologians discussing the philosophical aspects of quantum physics.
- Awards
- 2 wins
James Langston Drake
- Groom
- (as Jame Drake)
Michele Mariana
- Tour Guide
- (as Michelle Mariana)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen this movie was released, both film critics and scientists noted that it was not entirely up front about the role that the Ramtha School of Enlightenment (RSE)--a New Age spiritual sect often characterized as a cult--played in its precepts, development, and production. Though J. Z. Knight appears early and often as an interviewed expert in the movie, it is not until the end that she is identified as the founder of RSE, and her most controversial aspects (among which are her claim to be able to "channel" a 35,000-year-old warrior spirit named Ramtha) are not included at all. Many sources (for example, John Gorenfeld's September 2004 Salon article and Alison Willmore's October 2020 New York magazine article) state that this movie's three directors, William Arntz, Betsy Chasse, and Mark Vicente, were at the time also followers of Knight and RSE. Mark Vicente later became involved with another prominent cult: NXIVM, the human-potential-development and sex-trafficking pyramid scheme founded by convicted con artist Keith Raniere. After leaving NXIVM, Vicente participated in the exposé documentary series The Vow, revealing many of the cult's damaging tactics; however, nowhere in The Vow does Vicente admit that NXIVM was not his first time adhering to a cult-like group.
- GoofsDepiction of quantum mechanics in the movie bears no resemblance to the real theory of that name. In particular, the common misconception that the "observer effect" is dependent upon a sapient, human observer is incorrect. If any object interacts with any other, and either requires information regarding the current state and properties of the other, then that constitutes an observation.
- Crazy creditsThe Scientists, Mystics and Scholars interviews herein were chosen based on the expertise in the subjects which they discussed. They do not necessarily agree with all viewpoints put forth in the film. Likewise the Filmmakers may not agree with all the viewpoints put forth by the Interviewees. Agreement is not necessary - thinking for one's self is.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Brows Held High: Mr. Nobody and Living in Bad Faith (2015)
Featured review
What's the big idea?
This unusual picture tackles head-on the bizarre world of quantum physics and tries to meld it with mysticism and religion in its attempt to approach ultimate questions like "Why are we here?" and "What are the tiniest building blocks of the universe?" In so doing it intertwines speculation from physicists, doctors and philosopher/mystics with an everyday story featuring Marlee Matlin as a hearing-impaired young woman coping with life's problems. Having read a good deal about quantum mechanics, I was amazed that any movie made for popular consumption would even approach such a subject, one which not a single physicist can claim to truly understand.
The film uses graphics to illustrate the realm of the subatomic world, in which nothing can be said to be in any definite state until it encounters another piece of matter. In approaching quantum mechanics I think the filmmakers would have done well to mention one of the most famous experiments in all physics, in which light shining through 2 holes and onto a screen creates alternating lighter and darker interference bands, proving that light travels as a wave (waves interfere with each other), until one places a particle detector at one of the 2 holes, at which point the light-dark interference bands disappear and the light suddenly and bafflingly becomes single points (particles). It was this experiment which confirmed the wave/point duality of light, the exasperating fact that only when we "look" at subatomic matter does it assume any definite state and the inescapable conclusion that the subatomic world is one whose deepest structure even the world's greatest minds still cannot grasp.
One may admire the temerity of the filmmakers for assuming audiences can absorb such mind-bending concepts and at the same time castigate them for at temping to meld physics and metaphysics, for science is a never-ending process of testing and re-evaluation, while astrology, mysticism and all "belief-based systems" have only faith to sustain them. Relativity and quantum mechanics need no "explantion" or reason to believe in them other than the fact they are among science's most successful theories and have proved themselves over and over by such instruments as telescopes and particle accelerators. The precepts of quantum physics, in fact, led to the transistor and all of today's micro-processor-based electronics. Thus, science and mysticism have little to do with one another and attempting to mix them leads to muddled thinking rather than clarity.
In spite of the above reservations I feel "What the Bleep" deserves some credit. Since most movies offer nothing but entertainment and much of it mindless at that, this film explores concepts that are probably new territory to most viewers. The filmmakers may have intended the metaphysics as a way to introduce the quantum world to audiences whose minds have been conditioned by a lifetime of religion rather than science. At any rate, this picture should provide a glimpse into new worlds for many viewers and may even prove to be an "enlightening experience" - pun intended.
The film uses graphics to illustrate the realm of the subatomic world, in which nothing can be said to be in any definite state until it encounters another piece of matter. In approaching quantum mechanics I think the filmmakers would have done well to mention one of the most famous experiments in all physics, in which light shining through 2 holes and onto a screen creates alternating lighter and darker interference bands, proving that light travels as a wave (waves interfere with each other), until one places a particle detector at one of the 2 holes, at which point the light-dark interference bands disappear and the light suddenly and bafflingly becomes single points (particles). It was this experiment which confirmed the wave/point duality of light, the exasperating fact that only when we "look" at subatomic matter does it assume any definite state and the inescapable conclusion that the subatomic world is one whose deepest structure even the world's greatest minds still cannot grasp.
One may admire the temerity of the filmmakers for assuming audiences can absorb such mind-bending concepts and at the same time castigate them for at temping to meld physics and metaphysics, for science is a never-ending process of testing and re-evaluation, while astrology, mysticism and all "belief-based systems" have only faith to sustain them. Relativity and quantum mechanics need no "explantion" or reason to believe in them other than the fact they are among science's most successful theories and have proved themselves over and over by such instruments as telescopes and particle accelerators. The precepts of quantum physics, in fact, led to the transistor and all of today's micro-processor-based electronics. Thus, science and mysticism have little to do with one another and attempting to mix them leads to muddled thinking rather than clarity.
In spite of the above reservations I feel "What the Bleep" deserves some credit. Since most movies offer nothing but entertainment and much of it mindless at that, this film explores concepts that are probably new territory to most viewers. The filmmakers may have intended the metaphysics as a way to introduce the quantum world to audiences whose minds have been conditioned by a lifetime of religion rather than science. At any rate, this picture should provide a glimpse into new worlds for many viewers and may even prove to be an "enlightening experience" - pun intended.
helpful•51
- ruffrider
- Nov 27, 2005
- How long is What the #$*! Do We (K)now!??Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- What the Bleep Do We Know!?
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $10,942,306
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $7,655
- Feb 8, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $21,054,050
- Runtime1 hour 49 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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By what name was What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004) officially released in Canada in English?
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