The Zero Theorem (2013)

Terry Gilliam’s science fiction masterpiece, The Zero Theorem (2013), takes place in a bizarre cyberpunk future of the mid-21st century. It follows the story of Qohen Leth, an eccentric and reclusive programmer who works for the ontological research division of a large company known as Mancom. Qohen, who refers to himself in plural form, spends his days crunching ‘entities’ and avoiding the noisy office by requesting disability leave or permission to work from home. He fears missing an important phone call that he has been waiting for years and is also dealing with a recent loss of hair, which he believes is a sign of his impending death. However, despite his plea for accommodation, three company doctors determine that Qohen is physically healthy and require him to start therapy sessions with Dr. Shrink-Rom, an AI therapist.

Qohen attends a party thrown by his supervisor, Joby, in order to talk to Management, their boss. He requests permission to work remotely, stating that it would increase his productivity and mentioning his call which he believes will give him a sense of purpose. Although Management initially labels Qohen as ‘insane’, they later offer him a special project known as the ‘Zero Theorem’ which can be mutually beneficial. The project involves an extremely complex mathematical formula that has a reputation for overwhelming or even killing those who attempt to solve it. Despite spending months locked in his home dedicated to solving it, Qohen’s mental state deteriorates as the ‘entities refuse to cooperate’ and Mancom continues to demand processed data relentlessly. In a fit of frustration, he destroys his work station with a hammer, rendering it permanently unusable.