A Trip to Infinity is a 2022 documentary directed by Jon Halperin and Drew Takahashi. It is written by Alex Ricciardi and Jon Halperin.
We are in for a very light “seminar” in calculus, geometry, philosophy and physics, and also provided with nice personal short accounts of how the experts on the topic personally grapple with so much knowledge of this dizzying phenomenon.
Premise
Eminent mathematicians, particle physicists, cosmologists and philosophers give their take on infinity and its mind-bending implications for the universe.
About ‘A Trip to Infinity’
What is infinity plus infinity? It is infinity. What is infinity minus infinity? It is 0. What about, infinity x infinity? Well, that is infinity.
Enter chapter 2: Circles. Having no corners, or infinite number of corners, rather, “infinity has come round to be something like zero”, as Eugenia Cheng very poetically puts it. The documentary has very smartly been divided into nine chapters, giving us digestible doses of various aspects of the study of infinity.
Towards the end of the documentary it takes on a more philosophical approach, the most interesting part of the show, actually, in which each expert shares how they personally integrate their superior understanding of infinity, so central to the experience of one’s existence.
Ideal if you seek to watch something that will lower your heart-rate. At a subdued tempo, with good graphic illustrations, some amusing archive footage, and lighthearted interviews with experts, this documentary covers the surface of this interesting and mind-boggling topic in a pedagogical way that might appeal to a younger audience (if they have the patience to watch it), or an audience that has never pondered the concept of infinity and might now be curious, and viewers who suffer from insomnia who might appreciate it for its lullaby tempo.
This is a quick overview of a massive topic as far as the theory is concerned, so do not expect to get any closer to your PhD in theoretical physics by watching ‘A Trip to Infinity’ – if that is what you had expected. It is a pleasant viewing experience that has the added value of covering the topic not only from a scientific perspective, but also a philosophical one.
The Directors
Jon Halperin is known for various documentaries such as National Geographic Explorer (1985), A Year in Space (2016), among others.
Drew Takahashi is known for Exposing Muybridge (2021) and the National Geographic documentary Man-Made (2007).
Cast
Anthony Aguirre / self – Theoretical cosmologist
Moon Duchin / self – Mathematician
Stephon Alexander / self – Cosmologist
Kenny Easwaran / self – Philosopher
Eugenia Cheng / self – Mathematician
Delilah Gates /self – Theoretical physicist
Alan Lightman /self – Physiscist
Brian Greene / self – Theoretical physicist
Carlo Rovelli / self – Theoretical physicist
Janna Levin / self – Theoretical cosmoslogist