I unexpectedly found myself reflecting a lot during and after seeing Lana Wachowski’s newest Matrix film. I kept thinking of Shakespear’s Hamlet when the Bard writes, “Doubt that the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move his aides, Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love.” No matter how one interprets reality, love remains.

Further reflecting, there’s a scene in The Matrix (1999) that must work otherwise everything else that comes after makes no difference. It’s the scene when Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Neo (Keanu Reeves) are in the white-washed construct and Morpheus gives the necessary exposition to Neo about the Matrix, what it is, what it does, and why it does. Without getting that scene right, which they do, the audience is forever lost.

I thought a lot about that scene during the first act of this new film. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this cinematic world and how impressive it is that it all hinges on one important scene from more than two decades ago. With so much established exposition, this time they play with the mythology, seeing what they can get away with, and expanding the world even further. If you’ve never seen a Matrix film I don’t know how you’ll make sense of this one.

But more important than the world expanding premise is The Matrix Resurrections‘ simpler, more intimate story and its questions about what truly makes reality so valuable. When the confusing and unending sounds of identity, conflict, even war can be tuned out, what remains? The film argues, very well, therein remains love, no matter how you interpret reality.