Watch Travelling Salesman

Travelling Salesman is a 2012 sci-fi thriller film that explores the concept of P vs NP, a complex mathematical problem that has baffled computer scientists for decades. The movie stars Danny Barclay as a brilliant mathematician named "Gregory," who sets out to solve this enigma with the help of his colleagues: Arthur, played by Eric Bloom, and Reginald, portrayed by David John Cole.

The film opens with Gregory receiving an invitation to a secret meeting hosted by a billionaire software magnate named Arthur. Upon arriving at the meeting, Gregory realizes that he has been joined by other mathematicians who have been working on the P vs NP problem independently for years. After some heated debate, the group is offered an opportunity of a lifetime by Arthur, who promises to solve the problem and award each of them $1 million dollars.

The catch? The problem must be solved within 24 hours, and they have to solve it together. The mathematicians are provided with a black box that is said to contain the solution to the P vs NP problem, but they are only allowed to communicate with each other inside the box and must keep a record of their conversations for transparency. The goal is to reach a unanimous solution to the problem, with each member agreeing to the outcome.

As the group dives deeper into the problem, tensions rise, and the mathematicians begin to question not only each other's abilities but also their own ethical compasses. The group is forced to confront some of the fundamental questions of mathematics, computing and their place in the world.

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the film is its strong portrayal of how deeply personal and emotional mathematics can be. Throughout the movie, each character's psyche is gradually revealed as they struggle with their personal demons, haunted by the threat that their work might be for naught or even misused.

Travelling Salesman does an excellent job of exploring the intricacies of the P vs NP problem, which is notoriously difficult to explain to general audiences. The film tackles this problem competently - it takes the difficult matter seriously, and attempts to convey concepts such as algorithmic complexity and the ramifications of the problem, all while developing the film's narrative.

Another highlight of the film is the ambiguity that surrounds the box. While it is initially portrayed as a magical device that provides the answer to the problem, the mathematicians grow more cautious as they begin to wonder what the box is truly capable of. Is it really just a solution to P vs NP, or is it something more sinister, a device that could break encryption, infiltrate security systems or even threaten national security?

Overall, Travelling Salesman is a highly interesting and engaging thriller that manages to keep the viewers on the edge of their seats while also exploring complex philosophical and mathematical ideas. As a viewer, one is left with lots to consider, not just about the P vs. NP problem but about the competing passions of intellectual pursuit, personal ambition, and the moral responsibility in the world of science.

Travelling Salesman is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8.