The Missing Key to Understanding Christopher Nolan 

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.

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.

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.

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".

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

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?

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.

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

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 !

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

Oppenheimer is a great subject for Nolan because his most famous quote is itself a quotation from the Baghavad Gita, which can be read as expressing the same point as Nolan's movies (as posited in this video essay). That is to say, objective reality does not exist and cannot be known, only glimpsed, but that it is nonetheless required of us to participate in the subjective reality we experience, and play an active role in it where our principles and personal duties demand it.

“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

Wow, this is one of very few videos on RU-vid 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Thank you for this essay. To me, at heart, Nolan movies are about unintended consequences. That our decisions are nothing but bets on the future, based upon what we know NOW. That despite our best efforts and intentions, there's always the chance of screwing up. Because of everything that we don't know YET. His works are a love letter to everyone to embrace this fundamental nature of not-knowing, not-understanding, not-being-able-to-predict the outcome as humans. And approach each other with a more profound understanding that we are, by design, not able to wield the future. But meet each other in more sustainable ways in the present. With kindness. To make tomorrow better than today. Because the only thing we can influence, is the present moment. And what we do with it. NOW. It matters. The most.

Your videos are so well put together and offer such deep insight that I feel like I'm learning something important and life affirming in every one.

thinking back, the similaities between nolans different movies are surprisingly large in amount. the concept of taking a leap of faith is obviously present in each one. it was satisfying to come to that realization. great vid!

No surprise, that it took so much time to actually understand the core of one of my favourite film, The Dark Knight. Initially, I thought that the movie was good because it had Batman, and the Joker. I took the outside world's word of mouth to conclude it as my favorite. But, as years passed by, after I re-visited the film after a long time, I think I'm actually getting to know about the characters, not what they are objectively, but even subjectively, and how their decisions decide their fate. And I'm still getting new things out of the film in some or other way, surprisingly. It indeed, is a Christopher Nolan's film.

As in one sort of a dream i saw, a world of beings, serving a greater purpose together, knowing that they are on a road to finding even bigger mystery of creation, learning and walking a path, a school of lessons, a way to know who you really are, knowing along the way that we are not alone on this journey, we have friends who are same as us, almost our reflection, a mirror we can use to love ourselves and otherselves.

This video hits me deep. I’m currently in a state that you’ve presented in the beginning of the video. I’ve never looked at Nolan in a way to help me get out of my search for objective reality but rather get me into more and more of it. You’ve pointed out beautifully how Nolan wants to wake up calling me out of this depreessing state. Thank you 🙏

Wtf how did this make me tear up… Thank you for making this. No one’s unpacked the power of Nolan’s message for me like you have. There’s so much hope in this.

You make the movies to talk to each other quite literally, with their own dialogues. That's the touch of a master, my friend.

I don’t know how and why RU-vid find me with your video, but this is the best vid I have seen on RU-vid by all means. Your explanation and all these clips hit me deeply, recall my memory, make me all in tears. Thank you for making this video.

The way you select and edit the movie scenes into the talk are amazing, it has such a natural flow to it. It also serves as another reminder of how lucky we are to have a director making such brilliant and thought-provoking movies. Time for another Nolan binge-watch!

The editing and script on this video is beyond good. Thanks for making this. Nolan is the the greatest director in the past 20 years. No other director takes me on a journey like he does. This was so elegant.

The analogy on subjectivity and Oppenheimer's work is just perfect. He didn't create the bomb for the best interest of the world, he created the bomb out of fear, and consequently he ended up materializing what he feared most.

Love how Nolan is fan of Terrence Malick and how Kierkegaard is the center of both filmmakers.

One of my favorite youtubers, talking about one of my favorite directors, highlighting my favorite philosopher... huh maybe that’s not a coincidence. Thank you for making connections between Nolan and Kierkegaard that I never realized!

Man, I love your essays. The are not only intellectually stimultating but also emotionally engaging. Nolan is indeed a man searching for answers, knowing that in order to know more, you have to trust your guts first and then seek such answers even if reality itself will always be full of uncertainty. What's not to love about it!

Call it God, The Universe, Syncronicity... I'm not sure exactly but your videos have a pattern of appearing in my life when I need them the very most. Not the first time I've been reduced to tears by your work. Thank you.

Very well done, and helpful! Helps me appreciate Nolan even more than I already have, and tie themes together across movies. I would love to what he could do with a James Bond movie.

You know, I'm newbie science fiction writer working on my first novel in my anthology, and from my team (co-writer, artist...) i heard a lot that my stories and vision is so much similar to nolan and his brother, and that frustrated me SOOO MUCH. Because I feel I'm not original enough or what is the point of writing when someone is already on that path. But your videos about Nolan's movies showed me the reason of that similarity, THEME and PHILOSOPHY. Now, I'm not mad at my self. Now I know a path can be taken in different ways. THANK YOU

Wow, I loved how you made the point that by holding onto faith or belief one endows life, pursuits, relationships, and accomplishments, with meaning. Endowd with purpose.

This video essay is wonderfully put together and beautifully articulated. Nolan's films are an experience that go beyond pure entertainment (not that there's anything wrong with just entertaining audiences). It's an exploration of truth and reality, and the nature of things we rarely dwell upon. Videos like this are similar, so thank you

This is fantastic, man. Well done. And you introduced me to a Nolan movie I somehow missed! Never knew Pacino and Nolan worked together! Can’t wait to watch it. Thank you, and excellent job once again.

This is gonna be some deep shit.

this is why i like his movies best. the reason why i watch nolan’s movies because he knows how to make the audience use both their emotional and rational thinking simultaneously at the same time. questioning the audience’s subjective reality, makes the ones who watch the movie intrigued, wondering, “what do i know about this [movie]?” “how does the reality goes on like that in this [movie]?” “what do i gain from this [movie]?” and then we got the objective reality [answer] from the outcomes after all events that overlapped from one to another. thus, the answers [objective reality] instead of mocking our questions-the inability to see the bigger picture than the eyes of the beholder-guiding us and makes us see the reality more clearly, enrich us with the understandings of the objectivity that meets the reality of us. it’s not like despise the one and stand with the other, but stands on both reality. by this being said, christopher nolan has an effect to his audience-one way or another-whether they know it or not. and it still amazes me to this day that he graduated from english literature which speaks volume about his works: when art meets the mechanism, it creates something wonderful and poetic.

I find your videos so meditative and inspiring. While watching them, I start to write poetry and reflect deeply on existence and its multitude of aspects. Thank you for your, and I do not use this word often, genius. You add value and gain insight into the art of others with your perceptive and intellectually stimulating discussions which is so absent in so much media. You dig deep beneath the surface of all you analyze and connect ideas with elegance. I am astonished by your fluency of language and thought and the way your videos are crafted.

I adore Nolan’s work. The depth, subtly and care with you’ve spoken of his work was a beautiful thing. Thank you for upload.

I love this video. I think it perfectly sums up what draws many people to Nolan films. He makes movies for conflicted people that feel powerless in an overwhelming powerful world.

You’ve outdone yourself in this one my guy! I had a feeling that I’m actually watching documentary made by Nolan! And when I saw the original Oppenheimer clip at the end.. I had goosebumps! Transcending Experience and Extraordinary Narrative.

The editing was on point. I was tearing up at the end!

Bro your videos are just amazing. Thanks for all the time and effort you put in.

Something expanded in me. I feel a sense of relief. Thank you.

I must say, Christopher Nolan is my favourite Film Director. I recently learnt about Martin Heidegger’s magnum opus "Being & Time" I now realize there's a lot in common with Heidegger's philosophy and the philosophy in Christopher Nolan's Films.

Great video. An additional observation is that Nolans supporting characters often seem to be the most clear about what is going. Whether Teddy in Memento, Hillary Swank in Insomnia, Caine in Prestige, Arthur in Inception, Neil in Tenet, etc. (Sorry, jumping all over the place with the characters/actors names).

This was mind blowing! Thank you so much for making this. Sharing this, discovering this and editing all these amazing films together and digging into the depths of Nolans mind. Wow this is breath taking.

Exceptionally written. A very strong analysis that feels far more potent than the average conversation with someone else who has seen these films. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. They are rich.

Christopher Nolan is one of the best filmmakers working today. I love all his films as they’re unique and also different. Even with The Dark Knight Trilogy, the films are all different yet also similar due to the story being about Bruce Wayne and his journey as Batman. It’s great to see that when making a series of films being connected, he’s able to make each of them be able to stand alone if one just wanted to watch them separately, but also tell a greater story of Bruce Wayne when watched in order. This is an excellent video, thank you for the work you’ve done here. Take care!

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

I once read an article about Leo's character in inception and the ending of the movie. He lets go of his obsession throughout the movie with the spinning top and instead enjoys just being with his children. The point is, he doesn't care anymore about what the ACTUAL reality is. He is just happy and accepts the moment he is in. If it feels real and he enjoys that moment, then who cares if it's objectively real?

This was not just a detailed explanation to Nolan Movies. A open understanding of ourselves, our thoughts. Deep evaluation of the meaning of existence and life. The connection of everything in this world. Question of reality and faith. You did a wonderful job. Bringing meaning to things as shown in this video is justified with your work. Keep going ❤️

Masterfully crafted video sir, also I deeply appreciated that you talked about Kierkegaard and existentialism and didn't stay stuck on the surface level.

Your work keeps getting better and better. Keep pushing yourself Tom.

Your videos are so great. You are able to articulate concepts and philosophies underlying films so beautifully. I have read so many books you cited or noted that are so great. The Wild Edge of Sorrow is such a beautiful book that not a lot of people recommend or discuss.

This video essays keep getting better and better.

I love Nolan and watched all his movies at least once. This was an amazing summary of the hidden meaning of all his movies and helped me a lot in my view about my own writings. Thank you very much

Your channel is full of masterpieces just like the artists you discuss. I love what you do. I find I re- watch a lot of your content on a daily basis 👍

Instantly clicked to watch, you are truly a wonder LSOO, love your videos man, this is the highest quality work found in RU-vid

Thank you for this beautifully crafted video! Nolan certainly captures philosophy and the distortion of reality with mastery

What's the missing key to understanding Christopher Nolan? Answer: Better sound mixing in his latest few movies.😉 In all seriousness, this was an excellent examination of a theme that runs throughout Nolan's films. Thank you for putting in all the hard work in creating this. It truly was a very eloquent distillation of some of the hefty intellectual underpinnings of Nolan's work. This is what makes so much of Christopher Nolan's films so engaging. It works on both a superficial level, giving the casual moviegoer a visual spectacle, but at the same time it can challenge the viewer to reassess how he views the world.

Man... this was so well made... literally one of my favorite videos on RU-vid. thanks for making it 🙏

Almost perfect. I wouldn't say "what they want to believe in", but rather "what they believe in". there's a huge difference. Also, not "choose to believe", but "believe".

“Are you watching closely?” Yes, that’s why I’m here at 5 views.

I never cried while watching a youtube video essay, but YOU ARE THE MOST TALENTED AND WORTHY CHANNEL ON RU-vid. thank you!

watched memento when i was in highschool . i remembered being confused and amazed all at the same time. until now i cant forget that great movie

Great essay, possible the best exploration of Nolan’s ideas that I have seen. Thank you

It’s not just your analysis that goes deeper. Your choice of the visuals to accompany the words… breathtaking. I’m in awe of the amount of time and effort you put into this and other videos. Kudos!

Thank you for all the great videos, work and words. I love your way of presenting it. Keep going 🖤

I have always maintained and continue to maintain that Chris Nolan is a deeply underrated filmmaker, ironic given how acclaimed and successful his movies are. Thanks for the great insight, beautiful video!

I found myself listening mostly to the struggle between OBJECTIVE REALITY and the CONFUSION that envelops it. Myself and my colleages are in the middle of bringing into the world something huge and never before seen that benefits men (males) with their particular struggle in a practical way. So I was left speechless with a lump in my throat after watching this video. I don't know what to say to you Tom, except I love you brother! This video you created here helps myself and my team know we are on the right track - compatible with and in harmony with the real world (warts and all), and with the perspectives of Kierkegaard, Christopher Nolan, and Tom Van Der Linden at least! Big hug. Thank you.

Nolan's films have depth when it comes to characters and storytelling. He won't start shooting until the script is just right. That's real commitment to his craft. He prioritises good storytelling over spectacle. For someone who's had experience doing big budget movies, he really takes great care of the story he wants to tell.

Didn't know I needed this, but I most definitely did. Thanks. Of dankjewel... Kierkegaard was an early philosophical passion, reading his diaries at 15, over 30 years ago. Not only did you shine a light on Nolan's work, but now I can watch his creations again to look back at Søren from a very interesting angle...

Almost everthing you involved in this video rolls back to the masterpiece "LOST". "We live together and we die alone" "What happened is happened" by Jack (lost)

Your philosophical approach to Christopher Nolans movies was thought provoking, and captivating. Well done!

Insomnia Inception Interstellar Wonder what Nolan's next "In" movie will be.

Jesus, seldom i have difficulties to close a video when i don't have time for it, but just the amazing scenic nature of nolans films, and your editing skills that cut to the perfect frame made it impossible

fantastic. I Loved this! And I suspect much in the way Nolan spends up to a decade ruminating about a film, then a couple of years to actually make it, and to then be restricted to a two hour window to tell what hes learned, that the author and creator of this video knows what that is like! Incredible effort for 22 mins.

That certainly improved Tenet as a film for me.

As Kierkegaard would put it, its not about taking a leap of faith, instead it is about taking a leap into faith. Also guys watching Tenet as a muslim reminded me of the idea of "Qadr" which is one of the core tenets (heh) of Islam. It can losely be understood as predestination but not in the deterministic view. rather its better illustrated by tenet itself which is that the flow of time that we experience is a shadow of the reality and instead past present future are all occuring together, intertwined in some complex manner.

You must be Dutch. Your English gives it away. Nice analysis btw. Christopher Nolan is my favorite director together with David lean. Two totally different directors but both my favorites

Just found this video. When you reached the Ontology/Epistemology part, I had to comment lol: Quantum Mechanics is also fundamentally a deep debate about Ontology vs Epistemology. For a long time, humanity believed in reality as being something "solid all the way through". Then one by one, with Relativity and QM, that facade came crumbling down. When watching Tenet, they repeatedly emphasise the importance of "ignorance" - how each part of that global team only knows A PART of their mission. They don't know the whole thing, *they cannot*, for the safety of humanity (i.e. reality as we believe it to be). Ignorance is fundamentally built-in QM. It is the essential ingredient to ensure stability of matter (this is a well-established fact in QM and is applied in solid state theory rigorously). Over time, Physicists did understand that the only way to escape the troublesome paradoxes and pesky "singularities" of Classical Mechanics (that is "solid all the way through") is by introducing the ignorance of Quantum Mechanics. This would be essential to find a Quantum theory of Gravity too. Nolan has repeatedly emphasised the need for "ignorance" to ensure "stability" (i.e. peace of mind) for our protagonist: Memento, Prestige (where the opposite happens and you see both characters suffer in their quest of ultimate trick/knowledge), Inception, Tenet, and one can say even Oppenheimer has an ending similar to Prestige (it's an "ongoing" ending, that we are living in).

I would love a series where you analyze all of his movies!

brilliant! thanks for helping me understand and appreciate his works even more

The prestige is one of my favorites, I don't hear people mention it that often

Well done! Best break down on Nolan I seen and I am a 10 year dedicated fan.

Never has a voice fitted a person's appearance better. And, another masterful analysis and presentation.

Beautiful essay, LSOO always delivers. Some movie recommendations for future videos: Sideways Gattaca The name of the rose It Follows The Witch

O man, I thought nothing new can be uncovered for me in Nolan movies but this is so on point and so meta... Hats off

As usual, excellent video. I am loving your Podcast and the camaraderie between You and Thomas is excellent. I hope you guys cover Nolan or his specific films on the podcast in the future. 😁👍

One of the reasons why I love Memento is that it's such a clear mirror to people that lie to themselves in order to cope with their reality. It's as much a portrayal of self-deception as is it the need for revenge.

This is quite brilliant. Thank you. On point and important.

A very thoughtful & profound analysis of some very complex ideologies. In that vein, I’m wondering if Nolan actually studied philosophy or psychology at some point b/c these are extremely provocative theories here & it does make sense. Or Nolan is a genius 👏😳❤️!

Just brilliant, another profoundly moving and insightful analysis. I’m so glad you are putting your brilliance out into the world. Thank you thank you. 🙏🏻💛