The Oscar-winning film “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” has captivated audiences, evoking a range of emotions and prompting deep introspection. Beyond its critical reception, Kwan and Scheinert’s masterpiece transports viewers into a realm where ordinary lives intertwine with extraordinary circumstances, inviting us to ponder essential human values. In the midst of this captivating journey, an alternative psychological interpretation emerges, shedding new light on the film’s underlying themes.

Embedded within the tapestry of this cinematic marvel is a poignant quote that reverberates with profound meaning: “Of All The Places I Could Be, I Just Want To Be Here With You.”

It is within this intricate backdrop that it resonates, reminding us of the deep bond between Evelyn and Joy, transcending the boundaries of their complex relationship. 

The story begins with Evelyn Wong (played by Michelle Yeoh), a middle-aged Chinese immigrant, and her husband, Waymond Wong (played by Ke Huy Quan). Evelyn finds herself struggling to manage the finances of their laundromat business, tending to her grumpy father, Gong Gong (portrayed by James Hong), and navigating the worries that come with raising her teenage daughter, Joy (played by Stephanie Hsu). Amidst the chaos of their lives, it becomes evident that the impending turmoil is set to escalate.

During an IRS audit meeting, Evelyn’s numerous failed attempts at various hobbies and crafts come to light. Her disappointed and rebellious daughter Joy represents the impulsive aspect of her identity (ID), while her father Gong Gong personifies her superego, stretching her physical and mental resources to maintain equilibrium.

It is during this section of the film that Waymond from the Alpha universe enters the picture, explaining to Evelyn her pivotal role as the last hope to save the multiverse from the powerful antagonist, Jobu Tupkai. The audience, like Evelyn, is introduced to concepts such as the multiverse, verse jumping, and the ability to borrow skill sets from parallel versions of oneself.

While the prevailing perception of the film’s storyline suggests that Evelyn is being sought after by the protectors of the Alphaverse to combat Jobu Tupkai, who has ruthlessly killed multiple versions of Evelyn across various universes, there exists an alternative interpretation. The notion of multiple universes, recurring characters, and the interconnected relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist can be seen as metaphors for Evelyn’s dissociative experience.

Her daily struggles, personal and professional failures, and the weight of her responsibilities have taken their toll, leading her to detach from reality and enter an altered state of consciousness.

As viewers, we are immersed in Evelyn’s vividly painted fantasy world, an external manifestation of her internal turmoil. For instance, her love-hate dynamic with IRS officer Deirdre (portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis) is depicted in contrasting parallel universes, while her protectiveness and maternal instinct towards Jobu, viewed as a threat by Gong Gong and Waymond from the Alphaverse, serve as personifications of her fears and emotions.

At the core of Evelyn’s altered experience lies her profound guilt over not being a “perfect mother” and her overwhelming fear of losing Joy. The raw, unapologetic, and sometimes violent portrayal of Jobu symbolizes the exaggerated anxiety Evelyn experiences, personified as a menacing multiverse antagonist.

The seemingly simplistic portrayal of the multiverse and verse jumping can be viewed as products of Evelyn’s naive mind, struggling to cope with the pressures of her environment. The repetition of characters across universes serves as the mind’s way of weaving a captivating narrative, utilizing familiar faces from everyday life, akin to the constructs of a dream.

Over the years, Evelyn has suppressed her desires and buried early memories, sacrificing them in favour of her present duties and responsibilities. In her altered state, she gains access to the profound and meaningful perspectives on life shared by Waymond. Through introspection, Evelyn recognizes the patterns of erroneous parenting methods she inherited from her parents.

The skills she acquires from other versions of herself in different universes may very well be her own partially developed abilities, accumulated over time—her attempts at singing, culinary arts, martial arts, and more.

It is plausible that her father’s emotionally distant parenting, lofty expectations, and disapproval of her marriage have sown the seeds of a shattered self-concept, which her mind attempts to compensate for during dissociative episodes. 

Whether or not viewers align with this alternative interpretation, one cannot deny the film’s core message. “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” beautifully encapsulates the essence of what it means to be human—kindness, love, care, and understanding.

It skillfully portrays the existential questions faced by teenagers and the inner conflicts experienced by their parents. In traditional, patriarchal, and collectivistic societies, mothers are often burdened with the sole or predominant responsibility of raising their children. These societal pressures can compel them to adopt stern and dominant personas, inadvertently creating a rift in the mother-child relationship.

What truly connects a child to their mother is the expectation of unconditional love and unwavering emotional support throughout life’s phases. Evelyn’s success in saving the universe and reintegrating Joy into their ordinary world stems from her decision to momentarily shed her critical stance and instead accept her daughter for who she is, embracing her thoughts as a friend.

Ultimately, the film imparts a profound message: true balance in life can only be restored when society frees every mother from the unrealistic expectation of being “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once!”

It is through the journey of Evelyn and the remarkable tapestry of her multiverse experience that audiences are invited to reflect upon the complexity of human relationships, the sacrifices made for familial duty, and the transformative power of empathy and acceptance.