Being in the World is a 2010 American documentary film directed by Tao Ruspoli. The film explores the philosophy of Martin Heidegger, especially the idea of being-in-the-world, via conversations with philosophers influenced by Hubert Dreyfus and vivid portraits of practitioners in various fields. It draws on academic insight as well as stories of craft, music, cooking, and skilled practice to examine what it means to be fully human in a technological age.[1][2] The documentary premiered in 2010 at various U.S. film festivals, won the Audience Award (Documentary) at the Brooklyn International Film Festival, and was later released on DVD and made available digitally via streaming/VOD platforms.[3][4]
The film examines Martin Heidegger's concept of Dasein (being-in-the-world) through parallel narratives featuring academic philosophers and skilled practitioners. Rather than traditional talking-head interviews, the documentary demonstrates Heideggerian concepts through extended observation of embodied expertise across diverse fields.[6]
The philosophical segments feature conversations with Hubert Dreyfus and his intellectual circle, exploring themes of authenticity, technological alienation, and what Heidegger termed "ready-to-hand" engagement with tools and environment. These discussions are interwoven with intimate portraits of masters at work: chef Leah Chase preparing Creole cuisine, Japanese carpenter Hiroshi Sakaguchi crafting traditional joinery, and flamenco guitarist Manuel Molina performing in Seville.[7]
The film argues that genuine human flourishing emerges not from abstract reasoning but from skilled, attentive practice within communities of tradition and innovation, contrasting Heidegger's phenomenology with the Cartesian dualism of René Descartes.[5]
Philosophical themes
The film explores several key concepts from Heidegger's philosophy through both academic discussion and practical demonstration:
Authenticity vs. inauthenticity: The documentary examines how individuals can live genuinely in relation to their skills, communities, and purpose, contrasting Heidegger's emphasis on authentic existence with Descartes' mind-body dualism.[4]
Technology, tools, and tradition: The film addresses how technological modernity both threatens and reframes meaningful practice, demonstrating how tools and craft feature centrally in human engagement with the world, drawing on Heidegger's essay "The Question Concerning Technology".[8]
Dasein and embodied being: The documentary aligns Heidegger's concept of being-in-the-world with real-world examples of how people inhabit their environments through skilled practice, making, and creating, demonstrating phenomenology in action.[5]
Risk and mastery: The film demonstrates that mastery involves risk, improvisation, and personal voice, giving practices depth and presence through examples ranging from jazz performance to traditional Japanese carpentry.
The project originated when Ruspoli returned to visit his former professor, world-renowned philosopher Hubert Dreyfus, approximately ten years after graduating from UC Berkeley with a philosophy degree in 1998. This reunion sparked the inspiration for the film and led to meetings with a generation of philosophers whom Dreyfus had taught.[9]
Producer Giancarlo Canavesio recounted that around 2008, Ruspoli, who had "studied philosophy at Berkeley and became close to many philosophy professors," proposed creating "a documentary around the philosophical theme of being in the world, of being human." Canavesio was drawn to Heidegger's concept that "what defines us as humans is not that we think like Descartes said but by the way we develop our skills, by the way we 'are in the world'."[10]
The documentary deliberately avoids traditional academic exposition, instead employing what has been described as "embodied philosophy"—demonstrating abstract concepts through careful observation of skilled practice. Filming took place across multiple international locations including UC Berkeley, Harvard University, New Orleans, Japan, and Andalusia, Spain.[6]
The project was produced by Mangusta Productions with cinematography by Christopher Gallo, editing by Paul Forte and Tao Ruspoli, and original score by Isaac Sprintis.
Release and distribution
The film premiered at various U.S. festivals in 2010, including the Brooklyn International Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for Documentary Feature.[3] It also screened at the Vail Film Festival and Berkeley Video & Film Festival.
The documentary was released on DVD by Alive Mind on October 9, 2012, and became available for digital streaming and video-on-demand through FilmBuff and other platforms beginning in 2013.[11] The film is currently available through educational platforms including Kanopy and has been incorporated into philosophy curricula at universities.[9]
The documentary has also been made available for free viewing through the Internet Archive, expanding its accessibility for educational use.
Reception
The film received positive reviews for its accessibility and approach to complex philosophy. Spirituality & Practice described it as "a bright and thought-provoking examination of philosophy and the authenticity of those who have passionately immersed themselves in life," recommending it to both newcomers and students of philosophy.[4]
Mortise & Tenon Magazine praised the film as "a practical look at how this high-level, mind-bending philosophy relates to real life for woodworkers, jazz musicians, cooks, etc." noting that viewers would "barely know you're learning philosophy."[8]
The documentary achieved a 7.3/10 rating on IMDb, with user reviews describing it as "extremely thought provoking and inspiring" and praising Ruspoli for "making philosophy interesting and relevant."[12]
Academic analysis has noted the film's success in "artfully exploring the intersection of philosophy, creativity, and everyday life," while also being cited in documentary studies curricula.[13] An extensive philosophical analysis described it as a "vast, engaging and powerfully affecting documentary" that explores the "myriad dimensions of Heidegger's thought."[6]
The film has gained recognition in academic circles and is regularly incorporated into university philosophy curricula as an accessible introduction to Heideggerian thought.[8] Educational distribution through platforms like Kanopy has made it widely available to students and educators, with the film serving as a bridge between abstract philosophical concepts and practical understanding.[9]
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