Of conformity and unpredictability

Pi (π; 1998)

In school, we were thought about the Pythagoras theorem to calculate the length of a hypotenuse. In actual fact, he was more than a mere mathematician. He was a philosopher who studied mathematics in Egypt, started a school and the Pythagorean movement. The Pythagoreans believe that everything that exists in the universe follow a particular pattern and can be explained rationally using mathematic calculations. Some Pythagoreans have a strict code of conduct, were vegetarians and avoided certain nuts.

Numbers formed the basis of this black & white psychological drama. It tells of a socially awkward man who has a fascination with numbers. He lives alone in an apartment in Chinatown, trying as much as possible to avoid contact with other people including his neighbours.

He is troubled by a recurrent debilitating headache for which he needs to consume myriad of drugs and administer a subcutaneous injection. He has his computer which he uses to predict the outcome of the stock market. He correctly predicts the pattern but, unfortunately, loses it during his bout of headache. He attributes his aliment to his attempt to stare at the sun at six years of age.

There are patterns everywhere in nature.

In the meantime, he is harassed by two group of people, a Kabbalah cult who wants to decode a 216 word from the Torah and some Federal Agents who wish to manipulate the stock market.
According to the Kabbalah spiritual Jewish practitioners, the Torah is a series of code that could decipher the 216 word of the name of God, which could be used by the Messiah.

After many harrowing experiences, the protagonist, Max does a burr hole on himself to receive his pain. His headaches disappear and for once he can see the world without trying to analyse it.

The number 216 is important in the Abrahamic (mainly Judaism and Christianity) traditions. 216 the cube of 6; 6.6.6 denoting Satan). In ancient times, in the pagan traditions, burr holes (trepanning) were performed to release evil spirits. Surprisingly patients recovered and infection was minimal, it seems! Π fascinates mathematicians as its decimal representation never ends and does not follow any particular rational pattern. Unlike nature which follows a particular pattern which may be explained by calculations, human behaviour is entirely irrational just like π- a smorgasbord of a bizarre random pattern. But that is exactly what makes the world go round.