A thought-provoking and haunting exploration of how reality and dream-states may combine to form complex interactions. The line between the imagination and reality blurs when an accomplished Psychiatrist takes on a patient that appears to be suicidal.Written by
Anonymous
The color yellow is used prominently throughout the film. It represents sunshine, happiness, loyalty, joy, optimism, remembrance and warmth. It energizes mood and relieves depression. It's the lightest and brightest color on the color wheel. It's an attention getter - one reason taxi caps are painted yellow and in most countries traffic lights and signs are yellow, meaning caution. Even some blind people can detect the color yellow. On the other hand, it represents cowardice and deceit. Judas is often depicted wearing yellow. See more »
Goofs
When Leon (Henry's father) was talking to Sam after his eyes opened, he said that "The first time I can see everything" and "I always thought you had brown eyes." If a man didn't see anything in his entire life (he is blind), he can not know about the color brown to think about it. See more »
Quotes
Henry Letham:
Do you know the Tristan Rêveur quote about bad art? It's "bad art is more tragically beautiful than good art 'cause it documents human failure."
See more »
Alternate Versions
The UK cinema version was censored to achieve a 15 rating. A line of dialogue describing a suicide technique was altered. The original line was restored in the 2006 18-rated DVD. See more »
These Eyes
Written by Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman
Performed by The Guess Who
Courtesy of the RCA Records Label
Under license from BMG Film & TV Music
(played when Athena, Henry and his parents are in the car) See more »
Ultimately it's a richly textured, multi-faceted look at the relationship between guilt and love, death and life. Suicidal themes run amuck, so, as you can imagine, there are many dark, intense scenes between talented actors. And the performances really are great, as is the mind-bending cinematography. But its way overwritten...the truly brilliant "interesting plot device" mingles but never bonds with the characters or dialogue, so everything falls flat. It's not rewarding, because insignificant elements overshadow details crucial to experiencing the intended impact of the film.
If you want to see an astonishingly filmed, well acted movie, here it is, have fun...But Stay breaks the first commandment of film-making because it takes itself more seriously than its subject. At the end of the day, the message the filmmakers seem to communicate is, "see what we did!" instead of "see what we mean."
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Ultimately it's a richly textured, multi-faceted look at the relationship between guilt and love, death and life. Suicidal themes run amuck, so, as you can imagine, there are many dark, intense scenes between talented actors. And the performances really are great, as is the mind-bending cinematography. But its way overwritten...the truly brilliant "interesting plot device" mingles but never bonds with the characters or dialogue, so everything falls flat. It's not rewarding, because insignificant elements overshadow details crucial to experiencing the intended impact of the film.
If you want to see an astonishingly filmed, well acted movie, here it is, have fun...But Stay breaks the first commandment of film-making because it takes itself more seriously than its subject. At the end of the day, the message the filmmakers seem to communicate is, "see what we did!" instead of "see what we mean."