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Waking Life (2001)

R 99 min  -  Animation | Drama  -   7 March 2002 (Australia)
7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 27,900 users   Metascore: 82/100 
Reviews: 482 user | 125 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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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Trevor Jack Brooks Trevor Jack Brooks ...
Young Boy Playing Paper Game
Lorelei Linklater Lorelei Linklater ...
Young Girl Playing Paper Game
Wiley Wiggins ...
Main Character
Glover Gill Glover Gill ...
Accordion Player
Lara Hicks Lara Hicks ...
Violin Player
Ames Asbell Ames Asbell ...
Leigh Mahoney Leigh Mahoney ...
Sara Nelson Sara Nelson ...
Cello Player
Jeanine Attaway Jeanine Attaway ...
Piano Player
Erik Grostic Erik Grostic ...
Bass Player
Bill Wise Bill Wise ...
Boat Car Guy
Robert C. Solomon Robert C. Solomon ...
Philosophy Professor
Kim Krizan ...
Herself
Eamonn Healy Eamonn Healy ...
Shape-Shifting Man
J.C. Shakespeare 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 | Film | Death | Philosophy  | See more »

Genres:

Animation | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(Australia) See more »

Also Known As:

Пробуждение жизни See more »

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA See more »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$88,977 (USA) (21 October 2001) (4 Screens)

Gross:

$2,892,011 (USA) (28 April 2002)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

 | Argentina:  | Australia:  | Germany:  | Spain:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The subway scene took Wiley Wiggins 2 months to animate. The character in the scene had to be redrawn by someone else. See more »

Quotes

Philosophy Professor: The reason why I refuse to take existentialism as just another French fashion or historical curiosity, is that I think it has something very important to offer us for the new century. I'm afraid we're losing the real virtues of living life passionately in the sense of taking responsibility for who you are...
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Crazy Credits

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

Connections

References SubUrbia (1996) See more »

Soundtracks

"Ballade 3"
Performed by TOSCA
Written by Glover Gill
Courtesy of Nois Records See more »