The Nature of Existence

The Nature of Existence

The Nature of Existence

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The Nature of Existence (2010)

Opened: 06/18/2010 Limited

Screenings06/18/2010
Quad Cinema/NYC06/18/2010 - 06/24/20107 days
Sunset 5/LA07/02/2010 - 07/08/20107 days
DVD11/23/2010

Trailer: Click here to view at Apple Trailers

Genre: Documentary

Rated: Unrated

Short Synopsis

All the Mysteries of human existence -- Explained in one movie!

What if you asked the religious experts, gurus, scientists, and everyday people of the world why we exist? Why are we here, and what are we supposed to do about it? What started the Universe, and was it a mistake? Does God exist, and why does he seem so interested in our sex lives? After exploring the phenomenon of Trekkies, filmmaker Roger Nygard took on The Nature of Existence. Nygard wrote down the toughest 85 questions he could think of, roamed the globe to the source of each of the world's philosophies, religions, and belief systems, and interviewed people who have influenced, inspired, or freaked out humanity.

His travels highlight the words of such luminary figures as Indian holy man Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (The Art of Living), evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion), Chinese Taoist Master Zhang Chengda, Stanford physicist Leonard Susskind (co-discoverer of string theory), wrestler Rob Adonis (founder of Ultimate Christian Wrestling), confrontational evangelist Brother Jed Smock, novelist Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game), director Irvin Kershner (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), Stonehenge Druids Rollo Maughfling & King Arthur Pendragon and many more...

Applying an investigative approach to a spiritual quest, the film is a humorous and uplifting journey, presenting some of the most challenging ideas and extraordinary people you'll ever see.

If you only see one movie this year with all the answers, see The Nature of Existence.

Long Synopsis

What is the most important question there is? After exploring the phenomenon of STAR TREK fans in the acclaimed documentary TREKKIES, filmmaker Roger Nygard is taking on THE NATURE OF EXISTENCE, traveling the globe to the source of the world's philosophies, religions, and belief systems, interviewing spiritual leaders, scholars, scientists, artists and others who have influenced, inspired, or freaked out humanity.

"I made a list of the eighty-five toughest questions I could think of," said Nygard, "starting with biggest one, ‘why do we exist?' and then I began interrogating the widest cross-section of humanity possible." How would YOU answer? What journey is more important than one that takes us closer to finding meaning in our existence?

Profiled in the film are people like Indian holy man, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (The Art of Living), who described his job as "dehusking" people: "stress is the husk, which covers the light, the joy within a person."

Nygard spoke with Catholic Archbishop D'Ambrosio in Italy, who believed his is the true religion and said, "To believe in Christ is not easy. But it's not impossible."

In Athens, Georgia, Rob Adonis, founder of Ultimate Christian Wrestling, says he looks forward to the afterlife, "In Heaven I'm going to be perfect, I'll have abs of steel, I'm going to be chiseled, I'm going to have a great tan."

24th generation Taoist Master Zhang Chengda of China's Azure Cloud Temple on Taishan Mountain, China's holiest mountain, said, "If you do good in this life, then you can continue practicing Tao in the afterlife."

Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik in Mumbai, India maintains, "In Islam, the Truth prevails, not majority."

In England, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion, said, "Not only do you not need God, it's positively counterproductive, if you are trying to understand the nature of Existence."

In Palo Alto, California, Leonard Susskind (co-discovered string theory) explained that modern string theorists are coming to the conclusion that there is not just one Universe, but more likely trillions, if not an infinite number of Universes, all with laws of physics different from ours. Professor Li Shaoqiang, in Confucious' home town of Qufu, China, explained that, "Chinese people worship Mao Ze Tung as god because he founded a country."

And over 100 others like Harvard psychologist and author Daniel Gilbert (Stumbling on Happiness), film director Irvin Kershner (STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK), novelist and Mormon Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game), and Stonehenge Druids Rollo Maughfling & King Arthur Pendragon...

After a four-year world-wide odyssey beginning in 2005, the filmmakers had over 450 hours of footage to boil down to an hour and a half, to bring audiences the best and the most transcendental moments, to present a fascinating look at humanity, and our Universe, as seen through the eyes of some of the most interesting people on our planet, and perhaps, some of the most interesting beings in our Universe.

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