groundhog day
the eternal loop and the quest to be your best self
Imagine, for a moment, the disquieting realisation that the universe is a record stuck on repeat, looping your life into a single day—forever. Would it liberate you, or would it imprison you?
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The best philosophical movie of all time
I read somewhere that "Groundhog Day" is the best philosophical movie of all time. I'm not so sure about that. For me, The Matrix holds that title. But I thought I'd rewatch Groundhog Day with a different set of eyes to see if there's any merit in this author's bold claim. So with popcorn, pizza, and beer, I sat down to rewatch Groundhog Day.
Surprisingly, when I looked under the hood of this movie, I found it packed with some very interesting philosophical concepts.
On the surface, Groundhog Day is a comedic romp. It stars Bill Murray as Phil Connors, a sardonic weatherman caught in a time loop. However, below the surface, the film cleverly manages to transcend its comedic trappings and plunge us into a series of profound philosophical meditations.
By having Phil Connors relive the same day ad infinitum, the film engages us with themes of existentialism, ethics, personal identity, and Eastern philosophy. This multi-layered exploration of the human condition had me reconsidering which film should get the title of best philosophical movie.
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Nietzsche’s concept of Eternal Recurrence
Nietzsche's concept of Eternal Recurrence is a philosophical contemplation that manages to capture both dread and wonder by demanding that we confront the very essence of our existence.
Imagine the universe and all the events within it eternally recurring in an infinite loop. Basically, you would live the life you're living now over and over again for all eternity. We're talking the good and the bad, the ups and downs—all of it—without the ability to change anything or edit the parts you didn't like. You'd relive both the highest highs and the lowest lows of your life forever!
If you knew this was going to be the case, would you live your life differently?
Nietzsche used this thought experiment to challenge us to measure the value and worthiness of our lives as we're currently living them. In self-help speak, are you living the best version of yourself right now, and if not, what would you change knowing that you will be living this life on repeat?
Now juxtapose this with Groundhog Day, and the echoes of similarity resound. Phil Connors is essentially trapped in a microcosmic loop of Eternal Recurrence (except he can edit his life choices). At first, this repetition is a source of despair, much like how someone might feel when initially confronted with Nietzsche's proposition. The novelty and indulgence soon fade, giving way to the monotony and emptiness of a life without 'real' consequences or progression. The bleakness is palpable; the meaninglessness confronts him as a dark cloud that no silver lining seems capable of piercing.
However, Nietzsche didn't propose Eternal Recurrence as a nihilistic trap. Quite the opposite. It's a litmus test for life affirmation. In the same vein, Phil Connors evolves. His approach to the recurring day transforms; he moves from hedonism to nihilism to altruism and eventually to a sort of existential enlightenment. He learns to play the piano, to care for others, and to love genuinely. The cycle is not broken when he 'gets the day right,' so to speak, but rather when he lives a day so well that it's worth reliving infinitely.
There's an epiphany here—a harmonisation between Eastern and Western philosophies, between existentialism and Buddhism, between Nietzsche and the idea of karma. In embracing the small, everyday acts of kindness, skill, and love, Phil finds a life worth living and, therefore, a life worth reliving.
The groundhog is a cheeky nod to the cyclical nature of existence and becomes a symbol not of monotony but of opportunity. Each recurrence is a new canvas, albeit with the same brushes and colours, on which to paint a day worth living eternally.
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The interweaving of Eastern philosophy into the fabric of “Groundhog Day”
Karma: The Cosmic Ledger
In the first stage of his looped existence, Phil's actions are unrestrained by moral considerations; he indulges in hedonism and manipulates others. Here, the concept of karma is ever-present but seemingly defied. Karma, the law of moral causation, posits that actions have ethical consequences, good or bad. Yet Phil initially operates as if he's found a loophole in this cosmic ledger, facing no long-term repercussions for his deeds. However, as the loop persists, karma subtly manifests not in material or external penalties but through an internal existential malaise that deepens with each selfish act.
Samsara: The Wheel of Rebirth
Phil's existential plight is akin to the Buddhist and Hindu concepts of Samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth driven by karma. The loop is his personal wheel of Samsara--inescapable and recurring ad infinitum. His waking up every day to Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe" becomes a modern interpretation of the monotonous tolling of the cycle of life and death. Like souls in Samsara, Phil is reborn each day with a similar set of circumstances, fettered by his past actions and attitudes.
Enlightenment: The Path to Liberation
The key to breaking free from Samsara, as articulated in Eastern traditions, is enlightenment, a state of pure understanding and selflessness. Phil's enlightenment is incremental; he undergoes a transformation from egocentricity to altruism, from shallowness to emotional depth. In Buddhist terms, he cultivates "right action" and "right understanding," which elevate him from his self-imposed suffering. His journey culminates in a pure act of selfless love, a deeply Western concept that harmoniously converges with Eastern ideas. In doing so, he breaks the cycle, liberating himself from his personalised Samsara, just as enlightenment offers an exit from the cosmic wheel.
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The moment of truth
There are a lot of philosophical ideas to be explored in "Groundhog Day". What brings it all together and makes it sumptuous is the film's ability to bring Eastern and Western philosophical narratives into resonant harmony. While it's been fun and enlightening to look at the film through the lens of philosophy, I wouldn't say it's the best philosophical film. The Matrix still wears that crown for me. One of my friends has already challenged me on this, so I'm going to have to do a Notes on The Matrix to defend my view. But until then, if for some unknown reason you haven't watched Groundhog Day, I encourage you to watch it and let me know what you think.
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Which films would you add to a list of must-watch philosophical films?
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If you’ve watched the movie, you'll get this reference; if not, you will when you watch it. Let’s hope that you don’t subsequently have to wake up to this song every day and read this newsletter over and over again for eternity! 😉
Cheers!
