The Movie: A young man crosses the street and spots a piece of paper - as he picks it up he's struck by a car, leading him to wander around in a strange dream state. Believing himself to be in a dream he encounters a variety of people with whom he discusses matters of philosophy and the nature of dreaming and consciousness, but as the journey continues he becomes increasingly frustrated by his inability to wake from his slumber. What Makes It Original: Richard Linklater adopts the rotoscope animation technique and subverts it with a fluid style which lends the dreamy aura of Waking Life an evanescent quality. While some might find the philosophizing a little too high brow or pretentious - and the movie certainly has its critics who consider it to be little more than intellectual naval gazing - those who enjoy cinema which challenges the mind as much as it wows the senses with visual panache will soak up Waking Life's foray into existential musings.
