In a brutally stark confrontation with nihilism, Visioneers charmingly adds comedy to what an Albert Camus would define as absurd: the ease of living life without an ounce of suffering causes spontaneous combusting, and a population sensationalized into avoiding even further harm.

The main protagonist George (Zack Galafianakis) is whimsically a custodian at his predefined set level of authority in a dystopic yet familiar world of corporate governance. He knows his place and does not stir feathers. There is no explanation to his obedience – there is no struggle toward anything greater than himself. He is not necessarily idle, though his “work” is not necessarily progressive.

It is filing out paperwork to keep the wheels churning, while the dystopic work environment weighs upon the viewership of a critical remark of their own life arenas: the ease of the lazy-boy; the discontent of a frustrated wife with no ends other than to stockpile butter-making and mash potatoes; a teen alienated and smartly depicted as invisible. While George begins to, terrifyingly, develop dreams. 

It is in the crucible of dreaming where there is the beginning of future sensations of improved goodness.

 

Once Joseph had a dream which he told to his brothers; and they hated him even more.

He said to them, “Hear this dream which I have dreamed:

There we were binding sheaves in the field, when suddenly my sheaf stood up and remained upright; then your sheaves gathered around and bowed low to my sheaf.”

His brothers answered, “Do you mean to reign over us? Do you mean to rule over us?” And they hated him even more for his talk about his dreams.

-Genesis 37:5-8, Sefaria Translation

It is this regard, and regard for industrial mechanized society which punishes dreaming, because with it is an informed motion of passion; which the sober-minded penny-counting and assiduously heartless movers are antithetical towards; which poses an organized problem for the depicted American society.

Because with dreaming, there is what may be viewed to be frustration in the dystopic matrix of filling the body’s needs but not the spirit’s wants.

And how dangerous to introduce spirit – as a term – into such a social conversation! For it invokes more than the goals of constantly avoiding pain, harm, wrong decisions unto the body. Spirit introduces the perspective of living irrational to these optimized ends – which ironically causes shotgun strokes and combustible actions which even the most successful in appearances fail to combat. 

The world as it appears, with the motivation to conform to, is riddled with lies from the most potent in directing human life forward.

This is where I find this film to be enjoyable, with its critique on the lameness of man, in his “Last Man” contemporary reality, absent, no, voided painful pursuits. 

No doubt, George’s brother finds one, however humbly, with the goal of pole vaulting. A feature which sparks more desires. Where, again, such desiring is creatively destructive and therefore unhealthy to the internal clockwork which portends to be harmonious. Because of the veneer of peace it brings. 

Worldly prosperity brings more stress for a person to affirm personally: what am I to do? 

This purpose is that uneasy to answer. A direction which is self-directed, yet by necessity of the lack of skill in self-direction, will cause affliction; yields unto a satisfactory answer: love.

Then again, such a pursuit is still self-centered. It is in the selfless where a man can find contentment with his being. To suffer for the goodness of others, and therefore to improve themselves, is a noble end to affirm higher than more pleasurable self-fulfillment.

Love your fellow as yourself.

-Leviticus 19:18 Sefaria Translation

Grade: A