20 Things You Didn't Know About A Serious Man
11. The Coen Cinematic Universe?
It is no secret that the films directed by the Coens have narrative and thematic similarities that tie them together despite their seeming differences at the surface. Some of the most notable themes in their films include the questioning of God, the worth of artistic value and integrity as well as the nature of evil in human beings.
A Serious Man and the 2008 film Burn After Reading both share the Tuckman Marsh law firm, a nice reference that may for some fans tie the films into a shared universe of sorts. It helps that the films are tonally similar, so it is natural that keen viewers see these similarities as signs of interconnectivity.
Unfortunately, the Coens disproved this theory and could not see the connection between their characters so the theory does not hold water. However, this does not rob the films of their whimsical yet profound connective threads, even if it is unofficial for the time being.