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Waking Life

Waking Life

Dreams. What are they? An escape from reality or reality itself?

20017.51h 41m

Overview

Waking Life is about a young man in a persistent lucid dream-like state. The film follows its protagonist as he initially observes and later participates in philosophical discussions that weave together issues like reality, free will, our relationships with others, and the meaning of life.

Directed by Richard Linklater
Written by Richard Linklater
Produced by Tommy Pallotta, Jonah Smith, Anne Walker-McBay
Box OfficeBudget: $2.0MRevenue: $3.2M

Top Cast

Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke

Jesse

Julie Delpy

Julie Delpy

Celine

Wiley Wiggins

Wiley Wiggins

Main Character

Bill Wise

Bill Wise

Boat Car Guy

Alex E. Jones

Alex E. Jones

Man in Car with P.A.

Steven Soderbergh

Steven Soderbergh

Interviewed on Television

Ken Webster

Ken Webster

Bartender

Charles Gunning

Charles Gunning

Angry Man in Jail

Lorelei Linklater

Lorelei Linklater

Young Girl Playing Paper Game

T

Trevor Jack Brooks

Young Boy Playing Paper Game

Themes & Keywords

dreamsphilosophyparallel worldexistenceadult animation

About Waking Life

Waking Life is a animation, drama, fantasy film released in 2001 exploring themes of dreams, philosophy, parallel world, existence, adult animation. Directed by Richard Linklater, it stars Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Wiley Wiggins. Waking Life is about a young man in a persistent lucid dream-like state. The film follows its protagonist as he initially observes and later participates in philosophical discussions that weave together issues like reality, free will, our relationships with others, and the meaning of life.

Movies Similar to Waking Life

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We found 15 movies similar to Waking Life

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When a machine that allows therapists to enter their patient's dreams is stolen, all hell breaks loose. Only a young female therapist can stop it and recover it before damage is done: Paprika.

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While incarcerated for murder, cartoonist Jack Deebs found escape by creating Cool World, a series featuring a voluptuous femme fatale named Holli Would. But the artist becomes a prisoner of his own fantasies when Holli transports Jack into Cool World with a scheme to seduce him and bring herself to life. Hard-boiled detective Frank Harris – the only other human in Cool World – cautions Jack with the law: Noids (humans) don't have sex with doodles (cartoons). However, flesh proves weaker than ink as Holli takes human form in Las Vegas, staring in a trans-universal chase that threatens the destruction of both worlds.

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