The Missing Key to Understanding Christopher Nolan

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About this video essay:
With Oppenheimer on the horizon, let’s take a closer at the filmography of Christopher Nolan through lens of philosopher Kierkegaard, subjectivism and how it ties into our concept of self.

Further Reading:

Media included:
Following; Memento; Insomnia; Batman Begins; The Prestige; The Dark Knight; Inception; The Dark Knight Rises; Interstellar; Dunkirk; Tenet

Music:
Tony Anderson – The Way Home
Tony Anderson – Eclosion
Hannah Parrott – Held
Hannah Parrott – Sacred Rhythm
Lights and Motion – And We Collide Into Nothingess

[CatLoverx]

I think Nolan’s themes are time/reality/identity, in all his movies we see ourselves, we see our struggles, our pain and we see his characters break free. I often leave the theater with a sense that I am leaving with more power and knowledge to solve my own issues. It could be that the film just allowed a short relief from life.

[IsoMorphix]

All of Nolan's protagonists spend the whole movie trying as hard as possible to create an airtight understanding of the world they can protect themselves in--until they are pushed to the hard limit of that understanding and have to come face to face with their own powerlessness, forcing them to make a *decision with out a known outcome.*

I think the reason his films are always moving is because he lets his characters go the absolute limit before they have to "bow before God", so to speak. It's one thing to say something like "the world is bigger than your understanding". It's another thing entirely to depict it, and make its implication really felt.

Nolan works for me because he's showing a spiritual mind inhabiting a rational-materialist perspective. It's sacred art for a secular age.

EDIT: Upon further thought, my comment is sort of just a restating of LSOO's video with a bit of my own spin. I kinda feel like a freeloader.

[ramasuryamjalamanchili]

One more interesting common thing in Nolan's films is that, along with the protagonist, there's a character, who constantly tries to question their motives, and their ideology of what they want to achieve.

The protagonist always tries to justify with objective reality, but when they're at a roadblock they can't seem to pass, this 'other' character helps in clearing the path, directly or indirectly, to make the "Leap of Faith".

[guygrisaru]

I dont think there is another channel on youtube that is able to speak so eleqountly and directly to my soul and to what I'm feeling at the moment. Its as if every video you upload comes at the perfect time. Thank you for your work and for genuinely expanding on my sense of self and the world.

[udopiarecords]

Am I the only one who watches films and tv shows for this exact reason, to understand the underlying themes and character motives, and the lessons they want us to capture?

[anubratoroy]

Seriously people don't appreciate these hidden philosophical conflicts in Nolan's movies. Brilliant video 👏👏❤️🤩

[tarunindoriya]

I never clicked on a notification that fast....thanks for making this. Nolan is one of the most brave if not best filmmaker of our time. In times when everyone tries to play safe with formulated films, nolan challenge himself every time and try to push his boundaries every time.

[samwellick]

What I've always loved about Nolan's films was that within the grand scheme of things, the over the top world building and complexities, there always is at the core, love. The love of a father for his daughter, a man for his wife, a father for his kids etc

[zZech]

“So, do you want to take a leap of faith?
Or become an old man filled with regrets waiting to die alone.” This phrase hits deep…. It is indeed an encouragement to live passionately engaged with life

[muditbisht]

What you said about Nolan's films being about epistemology rather than ontology perhaps dismantles my long held view about his filmography. It opened up a new window through which I need to look at Nolan's works. Thank you for this revelation !

[jacobburnell]

Wow, this is one of very few videos on YouTube that gets Kierkegaard "leap of faith" or more accurately "leap into faith" right. It's something I would never have thought in Nolan's films but you make it seem so obvious here. Excellent work.

[turninburninvernoniii]

I hope Nolan sees this. Your grasp on his work, the way you articulate the tragic beauty of those themes that all great artists grapple with are as resonant and cathartic to me as my favourite films, paintings, even music

What you do here matters, LSO. It does to me, anyway.

[mikebasil]

Christopher Nolan is one of our most unique directors. Thank you, Tom.

[ghchd]

Seeing the work of Nolan narrated by you, reliving the memories, emotions that I had during each movie, was a transformative experience. Colliding with the philosophical motive had me all in tears. Thank you.

[preciousamaechi]

"...do not go gentle into that good night; rage, rage, against the dying of the light"

[AynenMakino]

I hope that Oppenheimer will be about long-term thinking, and how to care about futures beyond what you yourself could be a part of. Nolan has explored similar concepts before, but never from our own history. Never with the frame of reference that we can verify because we, the audience, do live beyond Oppenheimer's lifespan.

[remkoburger]

Oh man. Every time, this channel simply blows me away with insights I never knew existed with movies I know and love for a long time. This is art.

[MarvelousSara]

Thank you for helping me understand why I consistently keep com8ng back to Nolan films for an escape when I’m tired of examining my own problems

[MusicLover-tizo]

These essays helped me look at film another way. Not to find just self-indulgent mindless entertainment but a story that has a message. One that challenges my beliefs and prejudices. Thank you for that.

[akikleist]

I knew you would bring up Oppenheimer, but that caught me off guard, hearing the cracks then voice of Oppenheimer, that sounds like he is both amazed and haunted by his creation