Phillip K. Dick once gave an entire talk on the concept of the world as a simulation, wrapping the concepts of society and religion in. He talked of having memories of other existences that did not match any experiences he had in this life. The talk made some believe he was a complete crackpot, and others sit up and listen. Was it possible we are inside one big video game? In 1999 the film The Matrix blew minds across the world, and people (not for the first time) began to wonder if their day-to-day lives were in fact a simulation run by one heck of a computer system. A Glitch in the Matrix, directed by Rodney Ascher, looks at the real people who believe simulation theory to be fact, and not Science Fiction. Their faces are obscured with digital avatars, partially to protect them, but also in a way that makes the documentary lean more towards the concept of life as a simulation.
While first sliding into this documentary, you may be prepared to roll your eyes. There have been hundreds of articles, examinations of history, and explorations of the Mandela effect that may be very familiar to viewers. However, there is so much within this documentary that you may find yourself leaning into the question more than just casually. In an era when Reddit posts can lead to a coup on the United States Capitol, and people begin to wonder what news is being catered to them, the explorations in the documentary are definitely worth a consideration. This film is worthy of a watch, and then an immediate rewatch.
A Glitch in the Matrix will premiere for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival’s Midnight Section. It will be in select theaters and on demand February 5, 2021.
