Loading
Waking Life
Dreams. What are they? An escape from reality or reality itself?
Genres
AnimationDramaFantasy
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.
Details
Budget
$2000000
Revenue
$3176880
Runtime
101 min
Release Date
2001-10-19
Status
Released
Original Language
English
Vote Count
918
Vote Average
7.473
Cast
Meet the talented actors who bring the movie to life.
Ethan Hawke
Jesse
Julie Delpy
Celine
Wiley Wiggins
Main Character
Bill Wise
Boat Car Guy
Alex E. Jones
Man in Car with P.A.
Steven Soderbergh
Interviewed on Television
Ken Webster
Bartender
Charles Gunning
Angry Man in Jail
Lorelei Linklater
Young Girl Playing Paper Game
Trevor Jack Brooks
Young Boy Playing Paper Game
Glover Gill
Accordion Player
Lara Hicks
Violin Player
Ames Asbell
Viola Player
Leigh Mahoney
Viola Player
Sara Nelson
Cello Player
Jeanine Attaway
Piano Player
Erik Grostick
Bass Player
Robert C. Solomon
Philosophy Professor
Kim Krizan
Self
Eamonn Healy
Shape-Shifting Man
J.C. Shakespeare
Burning Man
David Sosa
Self
Otto Hofmann
Self
Aklilu Gebrewold
Self
Carol Dawson
Coffee Shop Chatter
Lisa Moore
Coffee Shop Chatter
Steve Fitch
Chimpanzee
Louis Mackey
Self
Alex Nixon
Man Writing a Novel at the Bar
Kelly Rebecca Nichols
Woman Talking to the Novel Writer (as Violet Nichols)
Steven Prince
Man Talking to the Bartender
Mary McBay
Woman on TV
Kregg A. Foote
Man on TV
Jason T. Hodge
Man with the Long Hair
Guy Forsyth
Self
John Christensen
Guy Talking about Turning the Light on in Dreams
Caveh Zahedi
Self
David Jewell
Man Talking to Caveh
Adam Goldberg
One of Four Men
Nicky Katt
One of Four Men
Jason Liebrecht
One of Four Men
Brent Green
One of Four Men
RC Whittaker
Man on the Lamppost
Hymie Samuelson
Mr. Debord
David Martinez
Man on the Train
Ryan Power
Self / Young Disappearing Guy
Tiana Hux
Soap Opera Woman
Timothy "Speed" Levitch
Self
Steve Brudniak
Goatee Man
Marta Banda
Friendly Girl
Charles Murdock
Old Man
Mona Lee Fultz
Quiet Woman at Restaurant
Edith Mannix
Older Artist in the Park
Bess Cox
Old Woman Sitting for a Portrait
Louis Black
Kierkegaard Disciple
Richard Linklater
Pinball Playing Man / Man on Back of Boat
Kierstin Cunnington
Goth Girl (uncredited)
Similar Movies
Explore movies similar to this one that you might also enjoy.
7.0
Strange Days
Former policeman Lenny Nero has moved into a more lucrative trade: the illegal sale of virtual reality-like recordings that allow users to experience the emotions and past experiences of others. While they typically contain tawdry incidents, Nero is shocked when he receives one showing a murder.
1995-10-13 | en
7.0
The Science of Sleep
A man entranced by his dreams and imagination is lovestruck with a French woman and feels he can show her his world.
2006-06-25 | fr
7.0
Capote
A biopic of writer Truman Capote and his assignment for The New Yorker to write the non-fiction book "In Cold Blood".
2005-09-30 | en
7.3
Vampyr
A superstitious drifter stumbles upon an inn where a severely ill adolescent girl is slowly becoming a vampire.
1932-05-06 | de
8.1
Persona
A young nurse, Alma, is put in charge of Elisabeth Vogler: an actress who is seemingly healthy in all respects, but will not talk. As they spend time together, Alma speaks to Elisabeth constantly, never receiving any answer.
1966-10-18 | sv
7.3
Belle de Jour
Beautiful young housewife Séverine Serizy cannot reconcile her masochistic fantasies with her everyday life alongside dutiful husband Pierre. When her lovestruck friend Henri mentions a secretive high-class brothel run by Madame Anais, Séverine begins to work there during the day under the name Belle de Jour. But when one of her clients grows possessive, she must try to go back to her normal life.
1967-05-24 | fr
8.1
8½
Guido Anselmi, a film director, finds himself creatively barren at the peak of his career. Urged by his doctors to rest, Anselmi heads for a luxurious resort, but a sorry group gathers—his producer, staff, actors, wife, mistress, and relatives—each one begging him to get on with the show. In retreat from their dependency, he fantasizes about past women and dreams of his childhood.
1963-02-14 | it
6.0
Human Nature
Obsessive scientist Nathan and his lover, the naturalist Lila, discover Puff: a man born and raised in the wild. As Nathan trains the wild man in the civilized ways of the world, Lila fights to preserve the man’s natural state. In the power struggle that ensues, an unusual love triangle emerges.
2001-09-12 | en
7.0
Caché
George, host of a television show focusing on literature, receives videos shot on the sly that feature his family, along with disturbing drawings that are difficult to interpret. He has no idea who has made and sent him the videos. Progressively, the contents of the videos become more personal, indicating that the sender has known George for a long time.
2005-10-05 | fr
6.7
Sex and Lucía
Various lives converge on an isolated island, all connected by an author whose novel has become inextricably entwined with his own life.
2001-08-24 | es
7.8
Nostalgia
A Russian poet, Andrei and his interpreter, Eugenia travel to Italy to research the life of an 18th-century composer.
1983-05-01 | ru
7.9
Mirror
A dying man in his forties recalls his childhood, his mother, the war and personal moments that tell of and juxtapose pivotal moments in Soviet history with daily life.
1975-03-07 | ru
7.3
25th Hour
In New York City in the days following the events of 9/11, Monty Brogan is a convicted drug dealer about to start a seven-year prison sentence, and his final hours of freedom are devoted to hanging out with his closest buddies and trying to prepare his girlfriend for his extended absence.
2002-12-19 | en
0.0
Lovers Across Space
To safeguard the Song dynasty, Liu Xiyin sacrifices herself by causing turmoil in Western Xia, only to awaken in a parallel world. There, she meets Ye Zhao, and what was once unrequited love in her past life takes an unexpected turn in this new reality.
2017-10-25 | zh
0.0
California Love
Take a pill and follow Eazy on his crazy quest for love.
2010-05-10 | en
6.6
Vampire Hunter D
In a far-future time ruled by the supernatural, a young girl requests the help of a vampire hunter to kill the vampire who has bitten her and thus prevent her from becoming a vampire herself.
1985-12-21 | ja
7.3
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
In this feature film based on the hit animated series, the third graders of South Park sneak into an R-rated film by ultra-vulgar Canadian television personalities Terrance and Phillip, and emerge with expanded vocabularies that leave their parents and teachers scandalized. When outraged Americans try to censor the film, the controversy spirals into a call to wage war on Canada and Terrance and Phillip end up on death row, with the kids their only hope of rescue.
1999-06-24 | en
5.8
Werner: Eat My Dust!!!
Because of a bet, Werner and his friend have to construct the fastest vehicle to win a race, because life depends on it.
1996-06-27 | de
7.9
Ghost in the Shell
In the year 2029, the barriers of our world have been broken down by the net and by cybernetics, but this brings new vulnerability to humans in the form of brain-hacking. When a highly-wanted hacker known as 'The Puppetmaster' begins involving them in politics, Section 9, a group of cybernetically enhanced cops, are called in to investigate and stop the Puppetmaster.
1995-11-18 | ja
6.6
One Hour Photo
Sy "the photo guy" Parrish has lovingly developed photos for the Yorkin family since their son was a baby. But as the Yorkins' lives become fuller, Sy's only seems lonelier, until he eventually believes he's part of their family. When "Uncle" Sy's picture-perfect fantasy collides with an ugly dose of reality, what happens next "has the spine-tingling elements of the best psychological thrillers!"
2002-08-21 | en