Existence (2017)

Intro
"Existence" is a gripping 2017 short film, blending aspects of suspense, drama, and mental secret into its interesting plot. Composed by Rahul Mishra, it explores the life of a young man struggling with the inconsistent truths of his existence and raises profound questions about identity, truth, and the nature of consciousness.

Storyline
The main character in "Existence" is a young pharmaceutical research researcher called Jay, who is tortured by a regular yet perplexing vision. Each time Jay dozes off, he experiences a different existence in which he has an entirely different personality and lifestyle. In his recurring dream state, he's Jai, an angler living a peaceful life with his wife and children in a remote, beautiful seaside town. This alternate existence is so vivid and routine that he begins losing his grip on his obvious reality, growing more attached to his life as Jai.

Conflict
Jay continues to spiral as the lines blur between his two lives-- that of a prosperous city-dwelling scientist and a modest angler. As a scientist, he looks for answers and desperately tries to justify this anomaly, posturing concerns about the existential nature of his reality. There's a dispute both within Jay and on a more comprehensive philosophical scale about the understanding of truth and the mind's capability to create entirely alternate realities. The climax turns even more thrilling when Jay falls under a coma after a vehicle mishap and lives completely in the life of Jai.

Performances & Direction
The performances, particularly by the protagonist, are laudable, and the instructions serves to highlight the conflicting emotions well. The director uses the movie's narrative to blend reality and dreams skillfully, creating an unclear, reflective tale. The moody cinematography, combined with a haunting background score, develops a strange ambiance that improves the general experience.

Conclusion & Impact
The ending of "Existence" is left open to analysis. After a brief healing, Jay selects to consume a poison that would put him in a dream-like coma, feeling more alive in his alternate life than his genuine one. The movie doesn't clarify whether Jay's decision was the best one, letting the audience draw their own conclusions. It serves as an introspective take on truth, existence, and the idea of living or sustaining.

"Existence" is a thought-provoking mental thriller that poses extensive existential concerns while providing gripping home entertainment. Its unconventional narrative, its unique expedition of parallel realities, the protagonist's internal conflict, and a detaining performance by the central character makes it a captivating watching experience. From start to end, "Existence" engages its audience not simply as viewers, but as active participants, engaging them to question the nature of their realities and the essence of existence.

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