We Contain Multitudes

SPOILER ALERT if you haven’t yet seen the phenomenal film!

On a rare break between clients on a heretofore normal Wednesday afternoon, I took myself to the County Theater in Doylestown, PA. It is a small, neighborhood, member supported community movie house. Sometimes they show first run films and sometimes indie films and cult classics. The Life of Chuck was released in theaters in early June and is inspired by a novella penned by Master horror and suspense writer Stephen King. I had forgotten that in the first portion of the movie, but the frightening first of three ‘chapters’ made it abundantly clear that this genius had his fingerprints all over it.

The movie’s central character is a man named Chuck, played by Tom Hiddleston (Loki in Marvel Cinematic Universe) who is at the end of his incarnation when the movie starts and rewinds as he does a life review, to the point at which he is a little boy who experiences a tragic loss.

It was intricately woven with overlapping characters from Chuck’s 39 years and encounters that had me saying, “Oh, yeah, THAT’s why he had that experience and that’s why his path crossed when it did with certain people. The throughline is the Walt Whitman quote from Song of Myself, “I contain multitudes.”

Two of the characters, were embodied by famous actors. Mia Sara, who portrayed Sloane Peterson in Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, played Chuck’s Bubbe (Yiddish for grandmother) which made me smile when I heard her called that, since that is how my grandchildren refer to me and Mark Hamill portrayed his Zayde (Yiddish for grandfather). Think of a wizened and jowly older Luke Skywalker. They play pivotal roles in Chuck’s far too short life.

Taking us along for the ride as narrator is Nick Offerman, best known recently for his role in Parks and Rec.

The terrifying aspects of the first 1/3 of the film, portray an apocalyptic series of events that include earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, sinkholes, floods and fires, the total breakdown of the internet and then the obliteration of all forms of technology which makes communication difficult. Certain aspects mirrored the environmental crisis occurring on the planet now. In the midst of this deeply troubling experience, a series of signs on buildings, on bus stop benches, on a radio commercial, in sky writing and in darkened windows, express the haunting message, “Charles Krantz. 39 great years. Thanks, Chuck.” The characters in the first chapter, a middle school teacher named Marty and his ex-wife Felicia who is a nurse in a local hospital, attempt to decipher the mystery, but are stymied. They also explore the question if at the end of the world, would there be more marriages or divorces. What do you think?

As the time bending aspects of the film play out, it becomes clear, the true nature of the ‘end of the Universe’ is the end of Chuck’s multitudinous existence, after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma. What made that all the more poignant for me was that two friends died from that very form of cancer last year. He comes to understand early in life that he is not alone; no one truly is and that each person who enters our lives becomes part of that ‘multitude’. Each experience we have, even in the midst of loss and grief, is meant to be savored and even transformed into joy if possible. Who and what are the multitudes you cherish?

When in doubt, put down your briefcase (or anything else you are carrying) and dance.

“I will live my life until my life runs out.

I am wonderful.

I deserve to be wonderful.

And I contain multitudes.”

I enjoyed it so much that I returned a few days later with a friend who is an accountant, which will make more sense once you see the movie or read the story, as Chuck’s grandfather explains the beauty of numbers and the ways in which it is incorporated in every aspect of life.

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This Post is republished on Medium.

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Photo credit: Author

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Jason

9 months ago

Loved your review, Edie! I saw The Life of Chuck too, and it really stuck with me. The whole “I contain multitudes” theme hit hard—such a beautiful reminder of how every connection shapes us. I also appreciated the way the film slowly revealed Chuck’s life in reverse—it made everything feel so layered and meaningful. And yes, the accountant bit totally made sense in the end! Thanks for sharing your experience—it added a whole new layer to how I saw the film.

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We Contain Multitudes

review of the Stephen King novella inspired film called The Life of Chuck

About Edie Weinstein

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