Waking Life (2001)

Title -           Waking Life (2001)

Type -           Feature Fiction

Genre -         Animation, Drama, Fantasy

Director -      Richard Linklater

Country -      USA


Waking Life is one of my top 100 films of all time.  I recall, as an undergrad Philosophy major, I would watch this movie many times over before my exams and get straight As after, for the most part because of the inspiration it drew out in me.  Rotoscope is a technique few explored extensively prior to this film and Linklater does it seamlessly. The plot revolves around a young man stuck in what seems to be an endless loop of dreams, as he tries to exit the loop he finds himself still in it.  The film is punctuated by many conversations with people he meets in this entrapping dream world.




As the lead character floats through the dream world trying to reignite his waking state, he finds himself engaging in philosophical dialogues with various people - from talks on revolution, to the mind-body problem, to epistemology, to questions on ethics and metaphysics.  He also silently observes a lot of phenomena which leaves him even more baffled.  This film not only makes one think critically about life but also opens the door to a sought of self-inquiry that is seldom taught, if ever, in any academic institution - at least not in Kenya.


Rating -    4/5 stars 


Review by Robert Mũnũku


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