Dark Night of Our Soul

Synopsis.

“Dark Night of Our Soul” explores the notion that our inherent difficulties of life; our traumas, our crises, our conflicts, our baggage, and so on, may serve an evolutionary function for us to evolve as individuals and as a species. 

The question then becomes: at a time of unprecedented global complexity, disconnect and suffering, can we embrace this process intentionally? Together?

Scientifically, this theory is referred to as post-traumatic growth. Spiritually, it may be named the dark night of the soul. Philosophically, as existential transformation. It goes by many names and these patterns show up across all inquisitive disciplines, across every corner of the world.

Rather than examining trauma, stress, and dissonance through the popular lens of mental health issues, this documentary is a story about the human condition. 

It is a trauma-informed exploration of what it's like to be a human being in a modern world that pathologizes adversity and limits the meaningful dark aspects of the human experience to symptoms or disorders.

The story may not fit neatly into our current narrative of mental health. It certainly does not entertain notions of limitation nor grandeur. It is a raw and truthful examination of the purpose of suffering. 

Sometimes subtle, other times remarkable and tyrannical, all human beings know some form of pain. But how familiar are we with its promise? If we may revisit our current relationship with suffering, perhaps we trade trauma for wisdom.