See Rodney Ascher's A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX For Free!

February 4, 2021 - 10:25am
Posted by Jim Healy

A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX

UPDATE: We have reached our limit of free views of A Glitch in the Matrix that were licensed from the movie's distributor, Magnolia Pictures. Thank you for making this presentation such a success! The movie is available for a rental price here. 50% of the proceeds from rentals go to support future free Cinematheque programming. And our podcast with Rodney Ascher is still available for free listening here!

While the Cinematheque’s theatrical venues remained closed, our free Cinematheque-at-home series resumes on Friday, February 5 with an exciting new release fresh from its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this week!

A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX (USA | 2021 | 105 min.)

Director: Rodney Ascher 

Are we all just characters in someone else’s video game? Could it be that we are living in a computer-simulated universe? Swallow the red pill and take a deep and fascinating dive into the rabbit hole that is simulation theory in the new feature-length movie from Rodney Ascher, director of Room 237 and The Nightmare., A Glitch in the Matrix provides the compelling testimonials of several avatar-shrouded real people, along with commentary from more established experts like Nick Bostrom, Emily Pothast, and cartoonist Chris Ware, to explore existential questions of personal identity and free will. With his own singular style, Ascher launches his investigation with a 1977 lecture from legendary sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick and playfully mixes in game footage and movie clips (from The Matrix and several other Hollywood products) to further illustrate how and why so many have come to doubt their everyday reality. Glitch ultimately ventures into serious, sometimes disturbing territory, to examine morality and social responsibility in a present-day world where even basic human interactions have become poisoned by media consumption and conspiracy theories.

A Glitch in the Matrix adapts to the internal logic of its echo chamber until it starts to sound pretty convincing on its own terms. If you’re not already one of the diehards convinced we’re living in a simulation, this movie might actually get you there” (Eric Kohn, Indiewire).

Beginning Friday, February 5, the Cinematheque has a limited number of opportunities to view A Glitch in the Matrix at home for free. To receive access, send an email to info@cinema.wisc.edu and simply remember to include the word GLITCH in the subject line. No further message is necessary.

Our Cinematalk podcast has also returned with a brand new episode featuring acclaimed director Rodney Ascher, director of A Glitch in the Matrix and Room 237, in conversation with the Cinematheque’s Jim Healy. You can listen here on our blog or subscribe to Cinematalk on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.