What is the meaning of life? I know, I know—it’s a tough question. I myself don’t have an answer yet. The impermanence of our time on Earth has evoked deep, introspective questions that we spend our entire lives trying to answer.
But recently, I discovered something remarkable—a catalyst for discovering the purpose in one’s life: Letterboxd.
Letterboxd is a social media platform specifically designed for film enthusiasts. It allows for the creation of a customized movie-watching profile where users can log, rate, review and discuss movies. Additionally, it is ornamented with features that enhance the typical review-exchanging experience such as customized lists, tags and a recommended feed.
At face value, it doesn’t sound like anything extraordinary. However, once you immerse yourself in the small details, you’ll realize this app has evolved into something greater than just a movie tracker: it is a social community that is both a space for film and self-discovery.
Until a few months ago, I never fully understood cinema and the beauty of the arts. I was your average movie-goer; I’d go on an occasional outing with friends to the movie theater or watch a late-night movie in my bed when I was bored—nothing obsessive. However, a dramatic shift in my life trajectory sparked after participating in my first Letterboxd discussion.
Scrolling through the thousands of reviews under movies, I was astonished at the endless interpretations and explanations of the minute details carefully crafted into them. Something stuck with me while reading those reviews: movies are what you make of them. They are forms of art, characterized by subjectivity and application. You can’t fully absorb a movie without directing your attention to the unspoken aspects—body language, symbolism and the analysis by implication rather than definition.
The connection between cinema and life’s meaning might seem tenuous at first. But through Letterboxd, I’ve discovered that movies serve as windows into countless lives, perspectives, and experiences far beyond my own limited sphere. Each film is an opportunity to step into someone else’s reality, to see the world through their eyes, even if just for a few hours.
We are all bound by the limitations of our own experiences. No matter how much we grow or learn, there will always be perspectives we can’t fully grasp firsthand. This is where the transformative power of cinema comes in. Through films and the thoughtful discussion sparked on Letterboxd, I’ve developed a deeper empathy and understanding for experiences vastly different from my own.
Movies have become more than entertainment for me—they’re a form of active education in human nature. Each new film I log on Letterboxd adds another layer to my understanding of the world. The platform’s community has taught me to look deeper, to question more, and to carry these insights into my daily life. When I read reviews now, I’m not just learning about a film—I’m learning about humanity through the countless unique interpretations each viewer brings to the same work of art.
Letterboxd has transformed my relationship with cinema from passive consumption to active engagement with art that shapes how I see the world. Each review I read, and each discussion I join, reveals new facets of films I thought I understood. And in this continuing journey of discovery, I’ve found something that, while perhaps not answering life’s biggest questions, has certainly helped me ask better ones.
Thank you, Letterboxd.
