Film

Waking Life 2001

Directed by Richard Linklater

  • Animation, Drama, Fantasy
  • 101 min
  • R

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

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.

AnimationDramaFantasydreamsphilosophyparallel worldexistenceadult animation

Log it

Sign in to log this.

Where do you stand?

Three questions people argue about. Answer first, then see how your circle and the community split.

  • Is it style over substance?

    Sign in to answer

    Be the first to answer.

  • Is this Richard Linklater's best work?

    Sign in to answer

    Be the first to answer.

  • Is Waking Life a masterpiece, not merely a very good film?

    Sign in to answer

    Be the first to answer.

Ask the title a question

Answered from the reviews and content notes on file, never made up. If nothing on file settles it, it says so.

Character

Contemplative, prestige, contemporary and character-led.

  • contemplativerelentless
  • unpretentiousprestige
  • contemporarynostalgic
  • character-ledplot-driven
  • earnestironic

Who loves it, who doesn't

The Prestige HunterThe Prestige Hunter: loved by 4The Prestige Hunter: disliked by 14 / 1The ProvocateurThe Provocateur: loved by 33The EmpathThe Empath: loved by 22The IronistThe Ironist: loved by 22The Thrill ChaserThe Thrill Chaser: disliked by 20 / 2The FormalistThe Formalist: loved by 11loved (4★+)disliked (2.5★ or less)

19 profiled raters. Loved most by The Prestige Hunters; disliked most by The Thrill Chasers.