I normally hate oneiric film. When I saw A Scanner Darkly, I hated it-though who knows, maybe I’d like it now, but who has the time. Considering my reaction to the heavy-handed dialogue of The Congress, I should have hated Waking Life, but I didn’t. I loved it. For some reason, Waking Life’s examination of the nature of human existence, life, possibility, self-expression, transcendence and personal development really spoke to me. Even though I was incredibly sleepy when I watched it, I never got bored with the endless monologues and dialogues or the unstable/wavy animation.
Basically we follow one man as he mentally or physically enters and witnesses a scene of human interaction. He occasionally participates, but is largely passive. Some of the characters are recognizable with their real life counterparts: Alex Jones, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, but most aren’t although you suspect that there are quite a few philosophers and professors in the mix. Even though the animation is obvious, it feels like a documentary. The transitions feel like we as viewers are watching a dream, and each transition follows dream logic.
I would heartily recommend Waking Life to philosopher lovers willing to give their undivided attention to the film. “Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.” Cue rapture through movies and human interaction.