Existentialism in Groundhog Day Groundhog Day directed by Harold Ramis, is a film that demonstrates existential ideas. An existentialist believes that people make a purpose of their life through free will, choices and facing your consequences. In the movie, Phil Connors is a weatherman who is reporting from Pennsylvania. He was reporting a blizzard and later on he goes to Punxsutawney to cover the Groundhog Day festivities. Due to the storm he gets stuck in Punxsutawney and when he wakes up he realizes it is 6 a.m. and that he is living the same day as yesterday all over again. He is stuck in a loop and he can not figure out what is going on. In the beginning of the movie, Phil asks, “What if there is no tomorrow?”(Ramis), which is ironic
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A theme that is also seen throughout the film is freedom/responsibility which is displayed in various situations that Phil is stuck in. Phil thinks there is nothing to life and he can not do anything but he starts to realize that he can do whatever he wants and there will be no consequences. He starts to change and becomes a more joyful person and says life should be lived to the fullest. He realizes he can have freedom and there will be no consequences for his actions. The point that the film gets across is that Phil and the rest of the people are free to do whatever the wish but they are responsible for their own consequences. While Phil was stuck in this time loop he had the opportunity to take advantage of this freedom he had but he did not do that as he only used his freedom for stealing money, food and trying to have sex with women. This only lead Phil to continue to be stuck in this time loop and losing his freedom. Phil had the opportunity to shape who he is through his choices just like in existentialism in which each person’s choices give meaning to their life. Existentialists believe people are free to do whatever they please as long as they take responsibility of their consequences because they think it is pointless to fight for something that can not be avoided. “According to Sartre...existence precedes essence” “It means in effect that man has no given character which determines his actions, but that he is free”(Copleston). The freedom that Phil had, allowed for him to shape his life and give it meaning. When the film began Phil felt superior to everyone but he came into the town just as a nobody which this shaped his persona through his actions and the freedom he had. The philosophy of Existentialists is that people can make choices as long as they are willing to take full responsibility of their consequences. In the film people are free to do
A theme that is also seen throughout the film is freedom/responsibility which is displayed in various situations that Phil is stuck in. Phil thinks there is nothing to life and he can not do anything but he starts to realize that he can do whatever he wants and there will be no consequences. He starts to change and becomes a more joyful person and says life should be lived to the fullest. He realizes he can have freedom and there will be no consequences for his actions. The point that the film gets across is that Phil and the rest of the people are free to do whatever the wish but they are responsible for their own consequences. While Phil was stuck in this time loop he had the opportunity to take advantage of this freedom he had but he did not do that as he only used his freedom for stealing money, food and trying to have sex with women. This only lead Phil to continue to be stuck in this time loop and losing his freedom. Phil had the opportunity to shape who he is through his choices just like in existentialism in which each person’s choices give meaning to their life. Existentialists believe people are free to do whatever they please as long as they take responsibility of their consequences because they think it is pointless to fight for something that can not be avoided. “According to Sartre...existence precedes essence” “It means in effect that man has no given character which determines his actions, but that he is free”(Copleston). The freedom that Phil had, allowed for him to shape his life and give it meaning. When the film began Phil felt superior to everyone but he came into the town just as a nobody which this shaped his persona through his actions and the freedom he had. The philosophy of Existentialists is that people can make choices as long as they are willing to take full responsibility of their consequences. In the film people are free to do