LIFE AND OTHER PROBLEMS

Creative documentary, 97 min.

What is the meaning of life, death and all the rest? Max Kestner gives an energetic and imaginative answer in his adventurous film, which begins with a young giraffe from Copenhagen, whose story goes viral all the way from Hollywood to Chechnya. 

10 years ago, the news that Marius the giraffe was put down by the Copenhagen Zoo went viral all the way from Hollywood to Chechnya. But it was also the first domino to fall in the wild thicket of existential questions asked by Max Kestner in his new, joyously adventurous film. What is life? Does consciousness exist? Where does love come from? And not least: How is everything connected – like, really? With curiosity and an open mind, Kestner embarks on a philosophical voyage around the world to look for answers to his questions. With contributions from scientists like Charles Foster and Eske Willerslev, every answer sparks three new questions. And yet, throughout the journey, we do gain insight into the great and small workings of the universe. What could have ended up as the most (self-)important picture of all time has instead turned into a funny, creative and completely unpredictable experience.

Director Max Kestner

Producer Vibeke Vogel

Editor Michael Aaglund

Co-production Hopscotch Films and Plattform Produktion

With the support of Danish Film Institute, TV2 Denmark, Novo Nordisk, Screen Scotland, SFI, Nordisk Film og TV Fond

Status Premiering at CPH:DOX 2024