The Sunset Limited (2011)

Nihilism is always a popular theme or character trait in literature and movies. In "The Sunset Limited" (2011) nihilism is approximately 50% of the story. In that movie / play, 'White' is arguing that all life is meaningless and that he has no connection to anything worth living for. 'Black' is arguing that God is the reason for life and we are called to reach one another from that love.

The piece that struck me was the last exchange as White is leaving the apartment. White apologizes to Black. But what is he saying sorry for? It seems to me that he is sorry for how badly Black feels about being unable to save White. He feels empathy for Black hurting because Black has accepted his human frailty - and the consequence that White is doomed.

As an otherwise perfect nihilist by White - it is this turn that is out of character. If nothing matters and all life is meaningless ... why be empathetic? Why extend a word of kindness & concern? Why try to make this obviously hurting man feel better - to acknowledge that he did his best - even if they both know it didn't work?

I think the answer is that nihilism is a cynical sham. It's a burlap cloth full of sticker burrs you wrap around yourself as a pain you control - because that pain takes your mind away from the pain you can't control. Nihilism is a desperate cry from a place that needs help.

For Cormac McCarthy (author of this work and many others that explore the futility of man's designs), I think the reason White is written this way is that otherwise he is an unredeemable psychopath. You need the dielectric in his last 3 lines to polarize the audience and create conflict in them. You need to be left or afterwards to litigate what you would have said or thought or felt if you were Black & White.

As a movie - it is called a novel in dramatic form. I think it is more of a philosophy piece (in form which is much easier to suggest than a masters level thesis). Unlike "No Country for Old Men", I don't think I need to.

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