Waking Life, 2001 [* * * * *]

Linklater's movie is a philosophical work about the very slight difference between dreaming and being awake. This guy is dreaming and can't figure out how to wake up. He meets a number of unusual people who talk while he listens.

It's very interesting - the dreamer keeps waking up and finding he's still dreaming about waking up! Each time he learns more about how he can distinguish between the dream state and the waking state.

In one dream, a friend he meets tells him to switch on or off a light to check if it's a dream, since you can't control light during dreaming. In another instance, he notices how the time on his clock wavers and that's how he knows he's dreaming. It's fascinating how the moviemaker introduces philosophy and psychology into this vivid dream.

It supports the gestalt notion that dreaming should clarify and free your choices as your subconscious works best with imagination. How deep philosophical thinking can only be useful to living when they rise out of the unconscious chaos of freedom. If you dream enough, you should grow closer to your instinct and make choices that are harmonious with your survival skills, overcome your limiting fears and prejudices.

The native americans used dream work to increase the efficiency of decisions of survival, we could all learn from our dreams how to cope in stressful lives.

Dreams are also only possible in r.e.m. sleep the most restful time, so if you aren't dreaming enough, you are probably not sleeping enough! Go sleep now and you will find your maya and begin a 'waking life'.:)