Character Relationship Map: What the #$*! Do We (K)now!?

Characters

• Amanda (played by Marlee Matlin) — protagonist

  Protagonist and deaf photographer who undergoes a profound spiritual and scientific awakening regarding quantum reality and human consciousness across both films.

• Jennifer (played by Elaine Hendrix) — protagonist

  Amanda's grounded friend and colleague who serves as a realistic counterpoint to her spiritual and scientific awakening.

• Elliot (played by John Ross Bowie) — supporting

  Amanda's romantic partner who represents conventional perspectives on love, career, and daily life.

• Reggie (played by Robert Bailey Jr.) — supporting

  A charismatic and spiritually inclined friend who acts as a catalyst for Amanda's deeper exploration of reality and consciousness.

• Voice Over Talent (voice) (played by Kirk Thornton) — supporting

  Narrator providing exposition and bridging documentary with narrative elements.

• Frank (played by Barry Newman) — supporting

  An older philosophical and spiritual teacher whose wisdom helps Amanda contextualize her epiphanies about life's meaning.

• Voice Over Talent (voice) (played by Lia Sargent) — minor
• Voice Over Talent (voice) (played by Steve Blum) — minor
• Self (played by Amit Goswami) — minor

  Appears as a real person speaking as themselves, contributing perspectives to the documentary's discussions of consciousness, science, and reality.

• Self (played by John Hagelin) — minor

  Documentary interviewee representing the general public's perspective on consciousness.

• Bruno (played by Larry Brandenburg) — supporting

  A scientist and academic figure who bridges the fictional narrative with real-world interviews on quantum mechanics and neurobiology.

• Voice Over Talent (voice) (played by Michelle Ruff) — minor
• Voice Over Talent (voice) (played by Tom Fahn) — minor

  An uncredited or collectively listed voice-over performer who contributes narration or other spoken audio.

• Self (played by Andrew Newberg) — minor

  Documentary creator and participant exploring quantum physics, consciousness, and reality creation.

• Voice Over Talent (voice) (played by Michael Sorich) — minor
• Ticket Sales Girl (played by Val Landrum) — minor

  Minor character representing everyday interactions that ground the film's metaphysical themes.

• Romantic Moritz (uncredited) (played by Casper Van Dien) — minor

  Uncredited romantic interest appearing briefly in the narrative segments.

• Bob (played by Robert Blanche) — supporting

  A workplace contact and representation of the mundane, conventional world that Amanda gradually transcends.

• Tour Guide (played by Michele Mariana) — supporting

  A narrative device who leads characters and viewers through conceptual spaces, reinforcing the docudrama's exploratory structure.

• Older Man (in subway) (played by Armin Shimerman) — supporting

  A mysterious commuter who delivers a pivotal insight or quote that resonates with Amanda's philosophical awakening in an everyday setting.

Story Analysis

Amanda's everyday experiences are interwoven with discussions of consciousness and quantum ideas, leaving the nature of reality and her next choices open.

Plot Progression

1. Unsettled Questions and New Models — Amanda faces questions about reality, identity, and life's purpose while speakers introduce ideas about quantum physics and consciousness. A basketball example makes the discussion of matter and empty...
2. Kindness and Emotional Patterns — A friend thanks Amanda for offering a home and gives her photographs, revealing both her kindness and the strain she carries. The film also considers emotional states and repeated reactions.
3. Everyday Advice and Unresolved Contact — A child expresses a wish to become a photographer, and Amanda encourages her to take many pictures. Bob's message asking to meet indicates that their relationship remains unresolved.
4. Open Questions and Possible Change — Speakers challenge conventional divisions and consider how thought and choice may shape life. Amanda's questions remain unanswered, and the film closes without establishing what she will do next.