The Silent Revenge of Existence: A Heideggerian Reading of the Film the Lamb

The philosopher Martin Heidegger, who placed the question of Being at the centre of his philosophy, examines human existence, questions the meaning of Being, and approaches humanity’s place in the world in a manner distinct from the traditional subject-object distinction. Heidegger’s philosophical approach to human existence is characterised by the concept of Dasein, which he defines as the mode of human existence in the world. According to Heidegger, the meaning of human existence stems from its relationship with Being. This study aims to provide an ontological and Heideggerian perspective on the analysis of the film Lamb by examining the relationship between human beings, Being and nature within Heidegger’s philosophy. Set on a pastoral farm, the film Lamb fundamentally raises questions about the relationship between humans and nature. Focusing on a childless couple adopting a being that is half-human, half-sheep, the film explores themes such as the longing for motherhood, feelings of loss, and the blurring of boundaries between humans and animals in depth. The film’s events can be examined within the context of the concept of Gestell (framing), the modern human’s attempt to understand and control nature, the violation of being by refusing to leave it in peace, the sudden uncannification (Unheimlich) of everyday life, and Heidegger’s dialectic of being and nothingness. The aim of this study is to analyse the human-animal relationship, the desire for possession, and the themes of motherhood and loss in the film Lamb. These themes will be linked to Heidegger’s critique of modernity and technology. In this context, the function of possession will be examined as both a physical and ontological intervention. Throughout the analysis, academic sources will shed light on conceptual debates, and the film will be interpreted in terms of concepts such as Gestell, Unheimlich and the being-nothingness relationship within Heidegger’s thought.