Ground-breaking animation and NY Knicks jokes aside, Pixar’s SOUL is a full-hearted metaphyiscal adventure that appears to have arrived at the right time. Reviews are coming in thick and fast, but there is only one question that needs addressing here - what happens to 22 at the end?
So the obligatory ***SPOILER WARNING*** before you continue…
First of all, I couldn’t help notice that soul number 22, played by Tina Fey, is just one away from 21 - as in 21 grams, the supposed physical weight of a soul that came out of Duncan MacDougall’s experiment in 1907.
Also - they say everyone loses 21 grams.. who will be next?
Another piece of evidence to the theory (which I will get to) is that we never really see what lies beyond the Great Beyond. The light at the end of the escalator is seemingly just out of reach from the viewer and the steady stream of souls heading into the light all appear to be at peace. Except for Joe Gardner, of course, and he is told by Terry the accountant that he ‘cheated’ the system.
So just what happens as you cross the Great Beyond? Will we ever know?
You see, all signs point to the notion that the Great Beyond is actually the Great Before. They are the same thing, and souls are re-born continuously, over and over again. Soul number 22, however, needed a special mentor to seek her purpose to spark her into finding a mortal body.
This is the esoteric secret that I believe Pete Docter implanted into the film.
Now, let’s see where 22 flies into during her descent to Earth.
Given the themes of discovery and rebirth, 22 indeed is heading to Tibet - the former home to the now exiled 14th Dalai Lama.
22 is the next Dalai Lama.
I don’t think it’s an accident that most of China is under the clouds here and India is clearly visible, perhaps hinting to the fact that His Holiness himself believes that he will be reincarnated in India upon his death.
Not seeing any discussion about this just yet, but this is my take.