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Waking Life (2001)

7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 32,465 users   Metascore: 82/100
Reviews: 485 user | 128 critic | 31 from Metacritic.com

A man shuffles through a dream meeting various people and discussing the meanings and purposes of the universe.

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Title: Waking Life (2001)

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5 wins & 14 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Trevor Jack Brooks ...
Young Boy Playing Paper Game
...
Young Girl Playing Paper Game
...
Main Character
Glover Gill ...
Accordion Player
Lara Hicks ...
Violin Player
Ames Asbell ...
Viola Player
Leigh Mahoney ...
Viola Player
Sara Nelson ...
Cello Player
Jeanine Attaway ...
Piano Player
Erik Grostic ...
Bass Player
Bill Wise ...
Boat Car Guy
Robert C. Solomon ...
Philosophy Professor
...
Herself
Eamonn Healy ...
Shape-Shifting Man
J.C. Shakespeare ...
Burning Man
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Storyline

Dreams. What are they? An escape from reality or reality itself? Waking Life follows the dream(s) of one man and his attempt to find and discern the absolute difference between waking life and the dreamworld. While trying to figure out a way to wake up, he runs into many people on his way; some of which offer one sentence asides on life, others delving deeply into existential questions and life's mysteries. We become the main character. It becomes our dream and our questions being asked and answered. Can we control our dreams? What are they telling us about life? About death? About ourselves and where we come from and where we are going? The film does not answer all these for us. Instead, it inspires us to ask the questions and find the answers ourselves. Written by Jeff Mellinger <jmell@uclink4.berkeley.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

dream | reality | philosophy | dreaming | death | See more »

Genres:

Animation | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some violent images | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

7 March 2002 (Australia)  »

Also Known As:

Acordar para a Vida  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$88,977 (USA) (19 October 2001)

Gross:

$2,892,011 (USA) (26 April 2002)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The film described in the story that Steven Soderbergh tells about Louis Malle and Billy Wilder is Black Moon. See more »

Quotes

Old Man: As the pattern gets more intricate and subtle, being swept along is no longer enough.
Boat Car Guy: Man this must be like... parallel universe night. You know that cat that was just in here? Just ran out the door? Well, he comes up to the counter, you know, and I say "What's the word, turd?" And he lays down this burrito and he kind of looks at me, kind of stares at me and says, "I have but recently returned from the valley of the shadow of death. I'm rapturously breathing in all the odors and essences of ...
[...]
See more »

Crazy Credits

The end credits are all rendered in moving, squirming letters. See more »

Connections

Spoofed in My Big Fat Independent Movie (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

"Gill 2 Second Movement"
Performed by TOSCA
Written by Glover Gill
Courtesy of Nois Records
See more »

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User Reviews

Wonderful
25 October 2002 | by (US) – See all my reviews

Waking Life is an amazing, visual, and completely original work of art from filmmaker Richard Linklater. It is not only one of the very best films to be released in 2001, but also one of the most thought provoking films I've ever seen. Watching it is an amazing experience in itself. Its visual style is stunning. Digital animation is put over live action actors in a style that every scene is like some kind of a post-modern painting that you would see in an art gallery. The story follows a young man by the name of Wiley Wiggins and his encounters with many interesting people. He listens to their thoughts and theories, but doesn't really understand why. He is in an on-going lucid dream that takes him to odd, but fascinating encounters with people and places. I absolutely loved this film. It is one of those rare films that takes you away from your seat and into a world that you are placed right in the middle of and when it ends, the only thing you can say is, `Wow!'


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